
Class "Crr !.7.S 

Book_„,lE>^2_5 



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PREFACE. 



Authentic accounts of important events which hare ta- 
ken place in past ag-es are of much utility : especially to the 
eountries and people whose affairs are related. In a countrj 
like ours, it seems necessary to the existence of true and en- 
lightened patriotism, that every person should possess some 
knowledg-e of the history of his own country. By the aid of 
history, we, can call up past scenes and events in review-* 
we can see the effects they have had upon the nations before 
us, and from thence we can learn wisdom for the future. 
It is, in reality, interesting- and instructive to every intelli- 
gent mind, to be transported back to the time of the first 
settlement of our country, to observe the courage, fortitude, 
and self-denial of our forefathers, amidst many surrounding 
dangers, difficulties, and privations, — their unconquerable 
love of freedom, — the resistance they manifested to tyrannj 
in all its shapes, — and the final success of their efforts to 
preserve the freedom and independence of their country 
entire. 

This work is not designed for the information of those wha 
are conversant with the history of our country in all its 
parts; (this class of community is comparatively small;) hut 
for those who cannot spare the time or expense of reading 
or procuring a full and complete history. The object of the 
work is to give an account, in a short but comprehensive 
manner, of the most important and interesting events which 
have taken place in our country, nearly all of which are 
arranged in chronological order. Those events which- 
are deemed of minor importance, are inserted in the Chrtrf 



, Y PREFACE. 

nolo^ical Tables, at the end of the book, as every event 
which is mentioned could not be detailed, without swelling- 
the book to an expensive size. 

It is believed that this work will be found usi-ful as a Re- 
ference Book, for events recorded in American History, 
there being-, it is presumed, no event of any very considera- 
ble importance, which is not noticed in this work. 

In making- the selection of events, care has been taken 
to consult the most approved authorities, and the Compiler 
would here state, that he feels himself under particular obli- 
g-ations to Holmes'' American Annahy the most valuable 
work of the kind which has ever appeared in this country, — 
a work from which a g-reat proportion of late Histories of 
the United States have been benefitted, either directly or 
indirectly. 

Other authors have also been consulted, and extracts 
taken from them in many instances, as will be perceived in 
examining the work. The numerous engraving's intersper- 
sed throug-h the book, it is thought will be of utility in 
making the work interesting, and of fixing the facts more 
finnly in the mind. J. W, B* 

New Havbn, October, 1828. 



CONTENTll, 



North American Indians 

ExpeJitionsofSotoandJa 
Sal!e 

Introduction of the use of 
Tobacco 

Settlement of Jamestown 
locahontas 
Jamestown saved 
Plymouth settlers 
Discovery of Indian Corn 
iwassasoit, the Indian Sa- 
chem 

Exploits of Capt.Standish 
-tHst settlements m Con- 
. necticut 

Blue Lawsof Connecticut 
■•earthquakes 

Indian cunning- and saga- 
city " 

Expedition against the 

"equots 
Elliot the Indian Mission- 



PAGE 



12 

14 
15 
16 
17 

18 
20 

20 
21 

23 
24 



First ciij^i^g of Rice 
in itch era ft 



ary 

Attack on Brookfieid 
Swamp fio-ht 
Beath of King- Philip 
•Bacon's insurrection in 

Virginia 
The Reg-icides 
William Penn 
Tyranny of Andros 
Preservation of the char- 

ter of Connecticut 
»estructiQQ of Schenec- 
tady 



Salem' „,^ 

Capt.Kidd, the pirate 

Great snow storm 

Dark days 

iNorthern Lig-hts 

Gov Fletcher and Capt. 

Wadsworth 
War with theTuscaroras 
H ai- with the Yamasees 
Inoculation introduced 
Father Ralle the Jesuit 

Natchez Indians extirpa- 
ted 

^'egro insurrection ia 

' Carolina 
27 Invasion of Georgia 

Capture of Louisturg- 
29 D'Anville's expedition 

' umult in Boston 
29 Braddock's defeat 

Massacre at fort William 
->^ Henry 

33 Abercrombie's defeat 
35 Capture of Quebec 

37 Expedition against the 

Spanish settlements in 

38 the West Indies 

39 Whitefield the celebrated 
41 preacher 

41 Col. Boon's first settle- 

, mentin Kentucky 

43 Stamp Act 
Massacre in Boston 

44 Destruction ©f Tea 



PAQE, 
4S 

46 
48 
49 
50 
51 

52 
54 
5S 
5T 
69 

61 

63 
64 
65 
67 
68 
70 



SO 
81 
82 

9^ 



xxtv 



COISTfiWTte. 



First Continental Con- 
gress 
Battle of Lexington 
Taking of riconderoga 
Battle of Bunker HIH 
Arnold's march through 

the wilderness 
Death of Gen. Montgom- 
ery 
Washington, commander 

in chief 
Attack on Sullivan's Island 
Declaration of Indepen- 
dence 
Battle on Long Island 
Death of Capt. Hate 
Battle of Trenton 
Battle of Princeton 
Battle of Brandy wine 
Battle of German town, 
and the attack on Red 
Bank 
Murder of Miss McCrea 
Battle of Bennington and 

capture of Burgoyne 
Treaty with France 
Battle of Monmouth 
Taking of Savannah and 

C'harleston 
BauiJones' naval battle 
Gen. Putnam's Escupe 
^Storming of Stotiy Point 
Battle of Camden 
Murder of Mrs. and Mr. 

Caldwell 
Massacre at Wyoming 
Distress of the American 

army 
Capture of Andre, and 

Treason of Arnold 
Battle of the Cowpens 
Battle of Guilfoid 
Battle of Eut iw Springs 
Storming- of fort Gri&wolcj 
Surrender of Coniwallis 



Washington leaving the 
86 army 

89 Continental money 
OObhays' insurrection 
93 Adoption of the Constitu- 

i tion 

103 Inauguration of Washing- 
! ton 

104 Whiskey Insurrection 
Yellow Fever in Phila- 

106' delphia 

108 Gen. Wayne's victory 

Difficulties with the 
no French 
112 Death of Washmgton 
116 Dr.Franklin's experiment 172 

118 Invention of steam boats 173 

1 19 Wars with the Barbary 

120 States 
Burr's conspiracy 
Lewis and Clarke's expe- 

122 dition 

123 Second war with Great 
i Britain, causes of the 

124 war, embargo, &c 
129 Mob in Baltimore 
131 Hull's surrender 

'Capture of the Guerriere 
131 Battle of Queenstown 
133 Massacre 7»t fort Mimms 

135 Capture of York (U. C.) 193 

136 Battle on I ake Erie 196 
137,Deaih of Tecumseh 197 

iBaltie of Niagara 198 

139 Burning of Washington 202 
141 Battle on Lake Champlain 203 

i Hart ford Convention 204 

143 Gen. Jackson's victory at 

' New Orleans 



156 
157 
159 

161 

162 
164 

165 
163 

169 
170 



174 
178 

180 



182 
184 
187 
188 
189 
191 



14( 

15(« 
15i> 
154 
155 



Bank of the U. State 
S'iracios in the West 

v'ies 
vVestern Antiquities 
Erie Canal 
Gen. Lafavette's visit 



In- 



206 
208 

2U 
216 
217 
213 



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INTERESTIJfG EVENTS, &a 

i {\,) North American Indians. 

It has long been a question agitated among the 
learned, how America was first peopled. The 
opinion best supported is, that the Indians of this 
country emigrated from the north-eastern parts of 
Asia, crossing over to this continent at Beering's 
Straits. This opinion is supported by the fact, 
that the figure, complexion, and customs of the 
nations of both continents are strikingly similar. 
With regard to the number of Indians inhabiting 
our country, at the time of the arrival of the Euro- 
pean settlers, no correct estimate can be made ; but 
according to the estimate of Dr. Trumbull, they 
could not much exceed 150,000, within the compass 
of the thirteen original States. It is beheved that 
they were formerly much more numerous, particu- 
larly on the Ohio river and its branches, and in 
New England. 

A hw years before the arrival of the Plymouth 
settlers, a very mortal sickness raged with great 
violence among the Indians inhabiting the eastern 
parts ot New England. « Whole towns were de- 
populated. The living were not able to bury the 
dead; and their bones were found lying above 
ground, many years after. The Massachusetts In- 
dians are said to have been reduced from 30,000 to 



2 



300 fighting men. In 1633, the small pox swept off 
great numbers"* 

The Indians of this country were divided into 
many small tribes, governed by their sachems, or 
kings, and were often at war with each other. 

In their persons the Indians were tall, straight, 
and well proportioned ; in their councils they were 
distinguished for their gi*avity, and eloquence; in 
war for bravery, stratagem, and revenge. 

Hunting, fishing, and war, was the employment 
cf the men. The women were compelled to till 
the field and to perform the common drudgery of 
their domestic affairs. 

Their dress in summer consisted chiefly of a 
slight covering about the waist ; in winter they 
clothed themselves with the skins of wild animals. 
They were extremely fond of ornaments, and on 
days of festivity and show they were painted with 
various colors, and profusely ornamented with shells, 
beads, and feathers* 

Their habitations, which were called by the Eng- 
lish, wigwams, were constructed by erecting a 
strong pole for the centre, around which other poles 
a few feet distant were driven, and fastened to the 
centre pole at the top, then covered with mats and 
bark of trees, which rendered them a shelter from 
the weather. 

Their warlike instruments and domestic utensils 
were few and simple; — a tomahawk, or hatchet of 
stone, bows and arrows, sharp stones and shells, 
which they used for knives and hoes, and stone 
mortars for pounding their corn. For money they 
used small beads, curiously wrought from shells, and 
strung on belts, or in chains, called ajampum* 

♦Dr. Morse. 



The Indians of this country were generally Po- 
lytheists, or believed in a plurality of Gods. Some 
were considered as local deities ; yet they believed 
(hat there was one Supreme God, or Great Spirit^ 
the Creator of the rest, and of all creatures and 
things. Him, the natives of New England called 
Kichtan. They believed that good men, at death, 
ascended to Kichtan, above the heavens, where 
they enjoyed their departed friends and all good 
things ; that bad men also went and knocked at the 
gate of glory, but Kichtan bade them depart, for 
there was no place for such, whence they wander- 
ed in restless poverty. This Supreme Being they 
held to be good, and prayed to Him when they de- 
sired any great favor, and paid a sort of acknowl- 
edgment to Him, for plenty, victory, &:c. The 
manner of worship in many tribes, was to sing and 
dance around a large fire. 

There was another power which they called //oJ- 
hctmock, in English the Devil, of whom they stood 
in greater awe, and worshipped him merely from a 
principle of fear, and it is said that they Sfvmetimes 
even sacrificed their own children to appease him.* 
They prayed to him to heal their wounds and dis- 
eases. When found curable, he was supposed to be 
the author of their complaints; when they were 
mortal, they were ascribed to Kichtan, whose dis- 
eases none were able to remove ; therefore they 
never prayed to him in sickness. Their priests, 
which were called Powaws, and their chief warri- 
ors, pretended often to see Hobbamock in the shape 
of a man, fawn, or eagle, hut generally of a snalce^ 
who gave them advice in their difficult undertakings. 
The duty and office of the Powaws, was to pray to 

*Morse and Parish's Hist, of N. E, 



12 



Hobbamock for the removal of evils; the common 
poop e said amen. In his prayer the Powaw pro- 
mised skms, kettles, hatchets, beads, &c. as sacri- 
lices, if his request should be granted. 

The apparent insensibility of the Indians under 
pains and wounds is well known ; yet they had aw- 
lul apprehensions of death. 

When sick, and all hope of recovery was gone, 
their bursting sobs and sighs, their wringing hands, 
their flowing tears, and dismal cries and shrieks, 
were enough to excite sympathy from the hardest 
heart. Their affection was very strong for their 
children, who by indulgence were saucy and undu- 
titul. A father would sometimes, through grief and 
rage for the loss of a child, stab himself! Some 
tribes ol Indians would not allow of mentioning the 
name of a friend after death. When a person died, 
they generally buried him with his bow and arrows 
fiogs, and whatever was valuable to him while liv- 
ing, supposing he would want them in another 
world, as their ideas of the happiness of heaven 
cousistexi in finding plenty of game, feasting, &c. 

1 he Indians appeared to have distinct traditions 
ot the creation and deluge, and some of their words, 
rites and ceremonies, bear a strong affinity to those 
of the ancient HebrewSo 



(2.) Expeditions of Ferdinand de Soto and M, de 
la Salle. 

The Mississippi was first discovered by Ferdinand 
de Soto m 1541, and Father Hennepin, (a French 
Catholic Missionary,) and Monsieur de la Salle were 
the first Europeans that traversed it. Soto had 



13 

served under Pizarro in the conquest of Peru, with 
such reputation that the King of Spain entrusted him 
with the government of Cuba, with the rank of Ge- 
neral of Florida, and Marquis of the lands he 
should conquer. 

Soto collected a body of 900 foot and 350 horse, 
for an expedition into Florida, where he landed in 
May, 1539. From the Gulf of Mexico, he pene- 
trated into the country northward, and wandered 
about in search of gold, exposed to famine, hard- 
ships and the opposition of the natives. He pursu- 
ed his course north to the country inhabited by the 
Chickasaws, whei-e he spent a winter. He then 
crossed the Mississippi, being the first European 
that had discovered that vast river. After a long 
march into the country westward, in which Soto di- 
ed, the remains of his troops returned to the Mis- 
sissippi. Here they built a number of small ves- 
sels, in which they sailed down the stream, and 
made the best of their way to Panuco, in Mexico, 
where they arrived in September, 1543. In this 
extraordinary expedition, of more than four years 
duration, in search of gold in the wilderness, and 
among hostile savages, more than half the men per- 
ished.* 

Father Hennepin, a missionary of the Francis- 
can order, and M. de la Salle, with a party of men, 
embarked from fort Frontenac, in Canada, in Nov, 
1678. After having passed through Lakes Ontario, 
Erie, Huron, and Michigan, and carried their ca- 
noes over land to the head of the Illinois river, 
Hennepin passed down to the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi. He set out upon his return to Canada, where 
he arrived in 1681, after having passed through ma- 
ny hardships and ditiiculties , in this perilous enter* 

♦Webster's Elements of Useful Knowledge, Vol. I. 
9* 



14 

prize among the savages, who for some time detained, 
him as a prisoner. 

M. de la Salle returned to France ; and from the 
flattering account he gave of the country, and the 
advantages that would accrue from settling a colony 
in those parts, Louis XV, was induced to establish 
a company for that purpose. Salle embarked, with, 
an intention to settle near the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi. But through mistake he sailed 100 leagues 
to the westward of it, where he attempted to settle , 
a colony; but through the unfavorableness of the 
climate, most of his men miserably perished, and, 
he himself was villanously murdered, not long after-.- 
by two of his own men* 



(3.) Introduction of the use of. Tobacco, , 

This singular native American plant, appears to 
have been used by the Indians in all parts of Ameri- 
ca. It is said it was first discovered by the Span- 
iards in 1520, near the town of 7b6a5co, in Mexico. 
The Mexicans used it copiously, not only in smoke ^ 
in the mouth, but also in snufF at the nose. 

" In order to smoke it," says the historian, " they 
put the leaves, with the gum of liquid amber, and 
other hot and odorous herb&, into a httle pipe of 
reed, or wood, or some other more valuable sub- 
stance. They received the smoke by sucking the 
pipe and shutting the nostrils with their fingers, so 
that it might pass more easily, by the. breath, inta 
the lungs." It was such a luxury, that the lords of ~ 
Mexico were accustomed to compose themselves to - 
sleep with it. 

In the account of Cartier's voyage in 1535, we 
find it used in Canada ; it is thus described : — 
* There groweth a certaine kindeof herbe, whereof 



A'^a]i°«^^^5-.i't 




Zaiu7i7u/ at Flyjiionth 1620. 




Disr/)verin<y Iiuiian Cmn- 



IS 

m Sammer they make great provision for all the 
veer, making great account of it,, and onely men 
use of it, and first they cause it to be dried in the 
sunne, then weare it, about their necks wrapped in 
a litde beastes skinne, made like a little bagge, 
with a hollow piece of stone or wood like a pipe : 
then when they please they make pouder of it, and 
then put it in one of the ends of the said cornet, or 
pipe, and laying a cole of fire upon it, at the other 
cnde, sucke so long, that they fill their bodies full of 
smoke, till it commeth out of their mouth and. nos- 
trils, even as out of the tonnell of a chimney."' 

Tobacco was carried into England from Virgin- 
ia, by Mro Lane, in 1586. Sir Walter Raleigh, a 
man of gaiety and fashion, adopting the Indian 
usage of smoking, and by his interest and example, 
introducing it at court, the pipe soon became fash- 
ionable. It was in vain that parliament discoura- 
ged the use of this " vile Indian loeec/." In vain 
King James assured his subjects, that the cus- 
tom of smoking it was loathsome to the eyes, hate-- 
ful to the nose, harmful to the brain, and danger- 
ous to the lungs. Opposition made proselytes; and 
the united influence of fashion and habit, extended 
the practice through the kingdom,* 

Tobacco was first cultivated by the English in 
Virginia, about the year 1616 ;— from that time to, 
the present, it has ever been one of the staple pro- 
ductions of that state. 



(4.) Settlement of Jamestown, ( Virg,) 

"North America was discovered in a period 
when the Arts and Sciences had made very conside- 

♦Holmes' American Annals. 



16 

rable progress in Europe. Many of the first ad- 
venturers were men of genius and learning, and 
were careful to preserve authentic records of such 
of their proceedings as would be interesting to pos- 
terity. These records afford ample documents for 
American historians. Perhaps no people on the 
globe, can trace the history of their origin and 
progress with so much precision, as the inhabit^ 
ants of North America ; particularly that part of 
them who inhabit the territory of the United Slates.*' 

The first European who discovered the coast of 
the United States, was John Cabot, a Venitian, who 
was employed by Henry VII. of England, to make 
discoveries. What is now called the Island of New- 
foundland was first seen by him, and sailing thence 
in a westerly direction, he ranged the coast to Flo- 
rida* This was in the year 1497 — about five years 
after the first discoveries of Columbus. 

After many unsuccessful attempts to establish a 
permanent setdement, Capt. Christopher Newport 
was sent out by a company in England, with 150 co- 
lonists. After a voyage of four months they enter- 
ed the Chesapeake Bay, and proceeded up a river 
called by the natives Powhattan, (now James Riv- 
er,) and landed. May, 1607, at the place which now. 
bears the name of Jamestown. This was the first 
permanent colony in North America, 



(5.)- Pocahontas. 

Among the most enterprising and brave of the 
Virginia settlers was Capt. John Smith. Under a 
pretext of commerce, he was drawn into an ambush 
of a numerous body of Indians, who seized and 
earned him in triumph to PowhaUan their king- 



17 

Fowhattan sentenced him to death. Capt Smith 
was led out and his head placed upon a large stone^ 
to receive the fatal blow. At this moment Poc.a° 
hontas, the youngest and darling daughter of Pow- 
hattan, then thirteen years old,, rushed to the spot 
where Capt. Smith lay, threw her arms about his 
neck, and placed her own head on his, declaring that 
if the cruel sentence was executed the first blow 
should fall on her. The sachem was moved — yield- 
ed to the entreaties of his daughter, and consented 
to spare his victim upon the conditions of a ransom. 
The ransom was paid — Capt. Smith was then relea- 
sed, and returned, unhurt, to Jamestown. 



(6.) Jamestown saved. 

It! 1609, two or three years after Pocahontas sa- 
ved the life of Capt. Smith, Powhattan formed a 
horrid scheme for the entire destruction of the colo- 
ny at Jamestown. His project was to attack them 
in time of peace, and cut the throats of the whole 
colony. 

In a dark and stormy night, Pocahontas, like an 
angel of mercy, hastened alone to Jamestown and 
discovered the inhuman plot of her father. The 
colonists, thus warned, took proper measures to re- 
pel the insidious attack. 

Pocahontas, after this, was married to an English- 
man, named Rolfe, with whom she went to England. 
She embraced the christian religion and took the 
baptismal name of Rebecca. After a residence of 
several years in England, during which time she 
exemplified the religion she professed, she died as 
she was about embarking for America. 

She left an only son, who was married and left 



18 



none but daughters ; from them descended some of> 
the most respectable families in Virginia, 



(7.) Plymouth Settlers. 

The colony at Plymouth, Mass. (the first Euro- 
pean settlement in New England,) was planted 
principally for the sake of the free and undisturbed 
enjoyment of religious and civil liberty. The colo- 
nists were originally from the north of England; 
and were of that class of people in those days cal- 
led Pw.n7a?i5, so named from their uncommon z<^al 
in endeavoring to preserve the purity of divine 
worship- 
Being persecuted by their enemies, during the 
reign of James I., they fled with their pastor, to 
Amsterdam in Holland, in 1608. They afterwards 
removed to Leyden, where they remained till they 
sailed for America. 

Having resolved upon a removal^ they procured- 
two small ships and repaired to Plymouth, (Eng.) 
and from thence they proceeded about 100 leagues 
on their voyage, when they were compelled to re- 
turn, in consequence of one of the ships being 
leaky. This ship was. condem:)ed, and the other, cal- 
led the May Flo7ver, being crowded with passengers, 
again put to sea, Sept. G; on the 9th of N-ovember, 
after a dangerous passage, they arrived at Cape 
Cod, and the next day anchored in the harbor which 
is formed by the hook of the Cape. 

Before they landed, having devoutly given 
thanks to God for their safe arrival, they formed 
themselves into a " body politic," and chose Mr. 
John Carver their Governor for the first year. 



19 

Their next object was to fix on a convenienC 
place for settlement. In doing this they encounter^ 
ed many difFicuIties — many of them were sick in 
consequence of the fatigues of a long voyage— « 
their provisions were bad — the season was uncom- 
monly cold — the Indians, though afterwards friend- 
ly, were now hostile — and they were unacquainted 
with the coast. These difficulties they surmounted ; 
and on the 2'2d of December, 1620, they safely 
landed at a place which they named Plymouth, 
The anniversary of their landing is still celebrated 
by the descendants of the Pilgrmis, as a religious 
festival. 

The whole company that landed consisted of but 
101 souls. Their situation and prospects were tru- 
ly dismal and discouraging. The nearest Europe- 
an settlement was 500 miles distant, and utterly in- 
capable of affording them relief in time of famine 
or danger. Wherever they turned their eyes, dis» 
tress was before them. " Persecuted in their native 
land —grieved for profanation of the holy Sabbath, 
and other licentiousness in Holland — fatigued by 
their long and boisterous voyage — forced on a dan- 
gerous and unknown shore in the advance of a cold 
wijuer — surrounded with hostile barbarians, without 
any hope of human succor — denied the aid or fa- 
vor of the court of England — without a patent — > 
without a public promise of the peaceable enjoy- 
ment of their religious liberties — without convenient 
shelter from the rigors of the weather. — Such were 
the prospects, F»nd such the situation of these pious 
and solitary Christians. To add to their distresses, 
a very mortal sickness prevailed among them, which 
swept off forty-six of their nunvber before the ens«° 
ing spring* 



20 

'' To support them under these trials, they had 
need of all the aids and comforts which Christianity 
affords ; and these were found sufficient. The free 
and unmolested enjoyment of their religion, recon-r 
ciled them to their lonely situation- — they bore their 
hardships with unexampled patience, and perseve- 
red in their pilgrimage of almost unparalleled trials, 
with such resignation and calmness, as gave proof 
of great piety and unconquerable virtue." 



(8.) Discovery of Indian Corn. 

Before the Settlers landed at Plymouth, they sent 
out a number of parties to explore the country. 
-One cf these parties consisted of sixteen men, under 
Capt. Miles Standish, In their route they discover- 
ed several small hillocks which they conjectured 
to be the graves of the Indians, but proceeding still 
further they discovered many more, and on closer 
examination each hillock was found to contain a 
considerable quantity of Indian Corn! It was buried 
in the ear, and excited in no small degree their curi- 
osity. By a hw of the company it was thought a 
valuable discovery, others, who had tasted the corn 
in its raw state, thought it indifferent food and of 
but little value. 

This corn served them for seed in the ensuing 
spring. They were instructed by Sguanto, a friend- 
ly Indian, how to raise it, and it was probably the 
means of preserving them from famine. 



. (9.) Massasoit, the Indian Sachem, 

The infant colony at Plymouth were much in- 
debted to the friendship and influence of Massasoit 



Q 



as^i^'rliim^'iptll"^ 




\ K 1 V 1 i 




Ttk2bi7i Canninif. 



21 



1 powerful Prince or Sachem in those parts. Aboui 
three months after their estn[,lishnK.,u'th<.y received 
a v.sit from Massasoit with sixty of his men. They 
were cond.icted (o the Governor who received them 
w, h m,).ary parade. The Governor and Ma sa 
so k.ssed each others' hands as a sahuation and 
boh sat down. ^^ Strong v^aUr'^ was ahen given 
to the sachem "who drank a great draught that 
made hm, sweat all the while alter." Aftlr eatS 
hoy entered mto a frjondly treaty. They ag eel 
to avoid ,nj.nes on both sides, to restore lolen 
goods, to assist each other in all just wars, and o en" 
deavor to promote peace and harmony amor?heir 
neighbors. Th s treaty was faithfull/oLse fed by 
Massasoit and his successors for more than fortv 
years alter. •' 

In the year 1623, Massasoit was ta1<en sick and 
sent information of it to the Governor, who sent 
avo of his friends to make him a visit. 'Their vis 

V^f P'^''"" '''^'■^'' "^^y '''•°"Sht, were ve V 
gratifying to Massasoit, and the medicines they ad^ 
minis ered were successful in restoring his health. 
Gratitude for .heir kindness prompted him to d - 
c ose a conspiracy of the Indians, Ihich had for s 
object the total destruction of the English Ths 
limely notice averted the calamity. ^ 

(10.) ExploUs of Capt. Standish. 
Capt. Miles Standish, the hero of New Enirianrf 
came over with the first Ply„,„„th settlers inS' 
Hp was allied to the noble house of Standish of 
Lancashire, (Eng.) and was heir apparen to a 
great^estate, umuslly detained from hin^'wS com 
pelled him to depend on himself for suppor . 



2-2 



'•He was small in stature, but of an active spu'it, 
a sanguine temper, and strong constitution. 
Those qualities led him to the profession of arms. 
He entered into the service of Queen Elizabeth, in 
the aid of the Dutcb,-and after the truce, he settled 
^vith Mr. Robinson's people .n Lcyden. When 
Ihev cmii^rated to America, ho commanded the de- 
tachment for making discoveries after their arri- 
val._He was chosen by the settlers as their military 
commander, and has since been considered as the 
Washington of the Plymouth Colony. 

One of his most celebrated exploits was the 
brcakingupof a plotin l623,which the Indians had 
formed To murdet^he English settlers ^l Wf sagus- 
set now Weymouth. The Governor of I^yraoutb 
having learned from Massasoit the plot of the na- 
ives sent Capt. Standish to their relict, and il a 
plot should be discovered, to fall on the conspirators. 
Standish made choice of eight men, refusing to 
take any more. When he arrived at Wassagusset 
be found the settlers scattered, and insensible ot 
the destruction which awaited them Standish was 
careful not to excite the jealousy of he natives till 
he could assemble the peop e ot the plantation. 
An Indian brought him some furs whom he treated 
" smoothly," yet the Indian reported that he " saw 
by the Captain's eyes that he was angry m h.s 
heart " This induced Pecksuot, a chief of cou- 
rage to tell Hobbamock, Standish's guide and in- 
ternrcter, that he "understood the Captain had 
come to kill him and the rest of the Indians there ; 
but tell him," said he, "we know it, but fear him 
not neithe'r will we shun him •, let him begin when 
he dare, he shall not take us at unawares. Oth- 
ers whetted their knives before him, using msult- 
ing gestures and speeches. Pecksuot, being a 



23 

man of great stature, said to Standish " though you 
arc a great captain, yet you are but a litde man, 
and though I be no sachem, yet I am a man of great 
strength and courage." The next day, seeing he 
could get no more of them together, Pecksuot, and 
Wittuwamat, and his brother, a youth of eighteen, 
and one Indian more, being together, and having 
about so many of his own men in the room, he gave 
the zoord, the door was fast ; he seized Pecksuot, 
snatched his knife from him, and killed him with it; 
the rest killed Wittuwamat and the other Indian. 
The youth they took and lianged. Dreadful was 
the scene ; incredible the number of wounds they 
bore -, without any noise, catching at the weapons, 
and striving till death.* 

This sudden and unexpected execution so terrifi- 
ed the other natives, who had intended to join them 
in the conspiracy, that they forsook their houses, 
and fled to swamps and desert places, where they 
^;on(racted diseases of which many of them died. 



(II.) First Settlements in Connecticut, 

In 1635, October 1 5th, about sixty men, women 
and children, from Dorchester, Mass., with their 
horses and cattle, and swine, took up their march 
across the wilderness to Connecticut river. Their 
dangerous journey over mountains and rivers, and 
through swamps they were two weeks in perform- 
ing. " The forests through which they passed for 
the first time, resounded with the praises of God. 
They prayed and sang psalms and hymns; the In- 
dians following them in silent admiration." It was 

*Morse and Parish's Hist, of New Eng-land. 



24 

so late in the season when they reached the place 
(now called Windsor) of their destination, that they 
were unable to find feed for their cattle, most of 
which died the ensuing winter. 

Disappointed in receiving their provisions, famine 
threatened them, and those who remained through 
the winter were obhged to subsist on acorns, malty 
and grains. 

The congregation at Newtown, (now Cambridge,) 
consisting of about one hundred men, women and 
children, with the Rev. Mr. Hooker, their pastor, at 
their head, also emigrated more than one hundred 
miles through a howling wilderness to Hartford. 
They had no guide but their compass; on their way 
they subsisted on milk, for they drove before them 
one hundred and sixty head of cattle. They were 
obliged to carry Mrs. Hooker upon a litter. 

They began a plantation and called it Newtown^ 
which name was afterwards exchanged for Hartford. 

In the fall of 1637, a small party from Massachu- 
setts journeyed to Connecticut to explore the lands 
and harbors on the sea coast. They chose Quinnipi- 
ac, for the place of their settlement, and erected a 
poor hut in which a few men subsisted through the 
winter. And on the 30th of March following, a 
larger party sailed from Boston for Qiiinnipiac^ 
where they arrived in about two weeks. This be- 
gan the settlement of New-Haven. 



(12.) Blue Laws of Connecticut, 

The following is a transcript of the principal 
part of the celebrated judicial code, known by the 
name of Blue Laws, under which it is said the first 



25 

colonists-of Connecticut remained for a considerable 
time ; they are as follows : 

" The Governor and magistrates, convened m gen- 
eral assembly are the supreme power under God, of 
this independent dominion. 

From the determination of the Assembly no ap- 
peal shall be made. • r u 

The Governor is amenable to the voice ot the 

people. . . , 

The Governor shall have only a smgle vote in de- 
termining any question, except a casting vote when 
ihe assembly may be equally divided. 

The assembly of the people shall not be dismis- 
sed by the Governor, but shall dismiss itself. 

Conspiracy against this dominion shall be punish- 
ed with death. 

Vv^hoever attempts to change or overturn this do- 
minion shall suffer death. ^ 

The Judges shall determine controversies with- 
out a Jury* . 

No one shall be a freeman, or give a vote, unless 
he be converted, or a member in free communion 
in one of the churches in this dominion. 

No food or lodging shall be afforded to a Quaker, 
Adamite, or other heretic. _ 

No one shall cross a river without an authorized 

ferryman. ^ , , , i n • 

No one shall run of a Sabbath day, or walk in 
his gaixlen or elsewhere, except reverently to and 

from church. i . j 

No one shall travel, cook victuals, make beds, 
sweep houses, cut hair, or shave, on the Sabbath 

No woman shall kiss her child on the Sabbath, or 
fasting day. 



26 

A person accused of trespass in the night, shail 
be judged guilty unless he clear himself by his oath. 

No one shall buy or sell lands without permis- 
sion of the select men. 

Whoever publishes a lie to the prejudice of his 
neighbor, shall sit in the stocks, or be whipped fif- 
teen stripes. 

Whoever wears clothes tritiim^d with silver, or 
bone lace above two shillings a yard, shall be pre- 
sented by the grand jurors, and the select men 
shall tax the offender at the rate of 300/ estate. 

Whoever brings cards or dice into this dominion 
shall pay a fine of 51. 

No one shall read Common Prayer, keep Christ- 
mas or Saints' day, make minced pies, dance, play 
cards, or play on any instrument of music, except 
the drum, the trumpet and Jews harp. 

When parents refuse their children suitable mar- 
riages,, the magistrates shall determine the point. 

The select men, on finding children ignorant, 
may take them away from their parents and put 
them into better hands, at the expense of the pci- 
rents. 

A man that strikes his w'ife shall pay a fine of 10/; 
a woman that strikes her husband, shall be punished 
as the court directs.. 

Married persons must live together, or be impris- 
oned. 

Every male shall have his hair cut round accorx- 
ding to a cap." 

This curious code appears to never have been 
written, but was declared, and interpreted by the 
select men, the judges, and the pastors of the difler- 
ent congregations.* 

*Analectic Magazine, Vol. 4, page 57, 



2-7 
(13.) Earthquakes^ 

The first earthquake since the settlement of 
this country took place in New England on the first 
day of June, 1638. The earth shook with such vi- 
olence, that, in some places, the people could not 
stand, without difficulty, in the streets ; and most 
moveable articles in their houses were thrown 
down.* It occurred between the hours of three 
and four P. M. The weather was clear and warm, 
and the wind westerly. " It came with a noise like 
continued thunder, or the rattling of coaches in 
London, but was presently gone." It was felt at 
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Narraganset, Pisca- 
taqua, and the circumjacent parts. It shook the 
ships which rode in Boston harbor, and all the ad- 
jacent Islands. "The noise and shaking continu- 
ed about four minutes. The earth was unquiet 20; 
days after by times."! 

On Jan. Gth, 1663, a great earthquake was felt 
in the northern parts of America. It was felt 
throughout New England and New Netherlands, 
(now New York,) but Canada was the chief seat of 
its concussions. It began there about half past five 
o'clock, P. M. While the heavens were serene, 
there was suddenly heard a roar like that of fire. 
The buildings were shaken with violence. '* The 
doors opened and shut themselves — the bells rang 
without being touched — the walls split asunder— 
the floors separated and fell down — the fields put 
on the appearance of precipices — and the moun- 
tains seemed moving out of their places." The 
first shock continued nearly half an hour. Several 
violent shocks succeeded this, the same evening, 

♦Holmes' Annals. fWinthrop's Journal.. 



2.8 

and the next day ; nor did the earthquake cease till 
the foUowini? J uly. The effects of the first, in Jan- 
«a'y were'remarkable. "Many fountams and 
small streams were dried up. In others the water 
became sulphureous. Many trees were torn up, ^ 
and thrown to a considerable distance ; and some . i 
mountains appeared to be much moved and broken. 
On the 29th of October, 1727 there was a 
.reat earthquake in New England. This earth- 
quake commenced with a heavy rumbhng noise 
^bout half past ten o'clock P. M., when the wea- 
ther was perfectly calm and tranquil. The motion 
va undula.ory.' Us violence caused the houses 
to shake and rock, as if they were fal mg to pieces.. 
Stone walls and the tops of several chimneys were 
shaken down. The duration appears to have been 
about two minutes. Its course appears to have 
been from northwest to southwest. , 

The most violent earthquake ever known in this 
country, took place November I8th, 1755. It was 
felt at Boston, a httle after 4 o'clock in a serene and 
pleasant night, and continued nearly tour and a half 
minutes. In ISoston about one hundred chimneys 
wire levelled with the roofs of the houses; and, 
Tbout fifteen hundred shattered and thrown d^wn 
inoart. Many clocks were stopped. "At JNew 
Ha' en the ground, in many places seemed to rise 
"ke the sea ; and the houses shook and cracked." 
The motion of the earthquake was ""^'"^'O'T- 
Its course was nearly from northwest to southeast. 
Slight shocks of earthquakes have occurred m 
many instances since the first settlement of this 
country* 



29 

(14.) Indian Cunning and Sagacity , 

The Indians have ever been remarkable for their 
cunning and sagacity. 

The following will serve to illustrate this part of 
their character. 

A Pequot Indian, in time of war, was pursued by 
a Narraganset. Finding it difficult to escape he 
had recourse to the following stratagem. Retiring 
behind a rock he elevated his hat upon his gun just 
above the rock, so that nothing but his hat appeared. 
The Narraganset' who was some distance oft', per- 
ceiving this, crept up softly, w^ithin a few feet, and 
fired, and supposed that he had shot his enemy 
though the head. But he soon found out his mis- 
take, for the Pequot immediately sprung round the 
rock and shot him before he had time to load his gun. 

Such is the sagacity and habits of nice observa- 
tion which an Indian possesses, that it is said, he 
can tell whether his enemy has passed any place — 
will discern foot marks which an European could 
not see ; he will tell what tribe it was, and what 
were their numbers. On the smoothest grass, on 
the hardest earth, and even on the very stones, will 
he discern traces. — In the pursuit of game they will 
track their prey in the same manner, and see which 
ivay to go in the pursuit. 



(15.) Expedition against the Pequots, 

The year 1637 is memorable in the history of 
Connecticut for the war with the Pequot. Indians — 
one of the most w^arlike and haughty tribes in New- 
England. Previous to the breaking out of the war. 
the Pequots had much annoyed the English, and. 



3t) 

murdered a number of them, whereupon a coui'f 
was summoned at Hartford who determined upon a 
war with the Pequots. Ninety men were mustered 
from the towns of Hartford, Windsor and Wethers- 
field, being about half of the effective force of the 
whole colony. This expedition was commanded 
by Capt. Mason, assisted by Capt. Underhill. 
Previous to their marching, the Rev. Mr. Hooker, of 
Hartford, addressed them in the following manner :- — 

"Fellow Soldiers, Countrymen, and Companions, you are 
this day assembled by the special Providence of God, you are 
not collected by wild fancy, nor ferocious passions. It is 
not a tumultuous assembly, whose actions are abortive, or if 
successful, produce only theft, rapine, rape, and murder; 
crime inconsistent with nature's light, inconsistent with a 
soldier's valor. You, my dear hearts, were selected from 
your neig-hbors, by the g-odly fathers of the land, for your 
known courage to execute such a work. 

"Your cause is the cause of heaven; the enemy have 
blasphemed your God, and slain his servants; your are only 
the ministers of his justice. I do not pretend that your ene- 
mies are careless or indifferent : no, their hatred is inflamed, 
their lips thirst for blood ; they would devour you, and all 
the people of God ; but ray brave soldiers, their guilt has 
reached the clouds; they are ripe for destruction.; their cru- 
elty is notorious ; and cruelty and cowardice are always 
united. 

" There is nothing, therefore, to prevent your certain vic- 
tory, but their nimble feet, tbeir impenetrable swamps, and 
woods; from these your small numbers will entice them, or 
your courage drive them. I now put the question — Who 
would not fight in such a cause ? fight with undaunted 
boldness? do you wish for more encouragement? more I give 
you. Riches waken the soldier's sword : and though you 
will not obtain silver and gold, on the field of victory ; you 
will secure what is infinitely more precious; you will secure 
the liherlies^ the 'privileges^ and the lives of Chrisfs Church, 
in this neio world. 

*•' You will procure safety for your affectionate wives, safe- 
ty for your prattling, harmless, smiling babes ; you will st- 
eure all the blessings enjoyed by the people of God in the 



3i 

ordinances of the gospel. Disting-uished was the honor con-' 
ferred upon David, for fighting- the battles of the Lord ; this 
honor, O ye courageoiis soldiers of God, is now prepared for 
you. You will now execute his vengeance on the heathen; 
you will bind their kings in chains, and their nobles in fetters 
of iron. But perhaps some one may fear that a fatal arrow 
may deprive him of this honor. 

" Let every faithful soldier of Jesus Christ, be assured, 
tliat if any servant be taken away, it is merely because the 
lionors of this world are too narrow for his reward; an ever- 
lasting crown is set upon his head ; because the rewards of 
this life are insufficient, March then with Christian cour- 
age, in the strength of the Lord ; march with faith in his di- 
vine promises, and soon your swords shall find your enemies; 
50on they shall fall like leaves of the forest under your feet." 

Being joined by Uncas^ the sachem of the Mo- 
hegans, they all proceeded down the river to Say- 
brook, where they formed their plan of operations. 
It was determined to attack the enemy in one of 
their principal forts (in the present town of Ston- 
ington,) where Sassacus, their chief sachem, had 
retired. Previous to the attack, Capt. Mason was 
joined by about five hundred Narraganset Indians, 
who, when they understood that they were to fight 
Sassacus, betrayed much fear and retired to 
the rear, saying ^^ Sassacus id as all one a god, and 
nobody could kill him,'''' 

The time fixed on at length arrived — the dawn 
of the 26th of May, which was to decide the fate of 
the Colony of Connecticut. The barking of a dog, 
when w^ithin a few rods of the fort, announced their 
approach and aroused the Pequot sentinel, who 
CY\ed out Owannux ! Owannux ! i, e. Englishmen! 
Englishmen ! The Captains, followed by their men, 
courageously pressed forward, found an entrance, 
and fired upon the enemy in the fort who made a 
desperate resistance. The destruction of the Pe- 
quots was terrible, yet the victory seemed doubtfuL 



32 

Captain Mason (who with his men were now nearly 
exhausted) seized a fire-brand and set fire to a wig- 
wam, of which there were many in the fort, cover- 
ed with mats and other combustible materials. The 
fire assisted by the wind spread rapidly, and directly 
the whole fort was in aflame. The roar and crack- 
ling of the flames, with the yells of savages, and the 
discharge of musketry, formed an awful and terrific 
scene ! The troops who had now formed outside 
of the fort, with the friendly Indians, who had by 
this time gathered courage to approach, surrounded 
the enemy and fired upon those who attempted to 
escape. 

The work of destruction was complete; of .five 
or six hundred Prquots, only seven or eight esca- 
ped — the rest were either shot or pe:*ished in the 
flames. The loss of (he English was only two kil- 
led and sixteen wounded. 



(16.) Elliot, the Indian Missionary, 

In 1G50, the society in England instituted for 
propagating the gospel, began a correspondence 
with the commissioners of the Colonies of New- 
England, who w^ere employed as agents of the so- 
ciety. In consequence, exertions were made to 
christianize the Indians. Mr. John Elliot, minister 
of Roxbury, distinguished himself in this pious 
work. He collected the Indian families, and estab- 
lished towns ; he taught them husbandry, the me- 
chanic arts, and a prudent management of their 
aflfairs, and instructed them with unwearied atten- 
tion in the principles of Christianity. For his un- 
common zeal and success, he has been called the 
Apostle of Jsfezo'England, 



€®MinL(eict]Lenit 




Elliot premhinj^ totfie Irviian.'. 

Mae g a^lnMg etts 



D i 

flllll|liu;ili;imiiiln , , h||i|| mnii.piiiiijt 


^^^^H 


■ 


F '^^H 


^i^^^ 


1 




>^^~^"*^^s 


^^^^^g 



17 



j^rlark on UrooktiM 



33 

Mr, Elliot began his labors about the year 1646. 
His first labor was to learn the language, which was 
peculiarly difficult to acquire ; for instance, the In- 
dian word Numjnatche^chodtantanioonganunnonask 
signified no more in English than our lusts.^ Elliot 
having finished a grammar of this tongue, at 
the close of which he wrote ^''Prayers and pains 
through faith in Christ will do any thing P'' with 
very great labor he translated the whole bible into 
the Indian language. This Bible was printed in 
1664, at Cambridge, and was the first Bible ever 
printed in America. He also translated the Prac- 
tice of Piety, Baxter^s call to the Unconverted, be- 
sides some smaller works, into the Indian tongue. 
Having performed many wearisome journeys, and 
endured many hardships and privations, this indefa- 
tigable Missionary closed his labors in 1690, aged 
eighty-six years. 

The ardor and zeal of Elliot, Mahew, and others, 
were crowned with such success, that in 1660, there 
were ten towns of Indians in Massachusetts, 
who were converted to the Christian Rehgion. In 
1695, there were not less than three thousand adult 
Indian converts in the Islands of Nantucket and 
Martha's Vineyard. 



(17.) King Philip's War. 

(attack on brookeield.) 

In the year 1675, Philip, Sachem of the Wamp- 
anogas, and grand-son of Massasoit, began the most 
general and destructive war ever waged by the In- 
dians upon the infant Colonies. He resided at 

* Mather's Magnalia, vol. 1. 
4 



34 



Mount Hope, in the present town of Bristol, in 

^'i°1s Supposed that his object was the entire ex- 
tlnction of the colonists, who were now rapidly ex- 
endin- their settlements. The .mmed,ate cause of 
he wa" was this : Sausaman, an Indmn Missionary, 
ad made a discovery of PhUip s plots to the En 
Xh, for which PhUip caused him to be murdered . 
fhe murderers were tried and executed by the Ea- 
.ifsh This roused the anger of Philip, who im- 
mediately commenced hostilities, and by his influ- 
ence drew into the war most of the Indian tribes .>» 

"^ pl^fit the Nipmucks, a tribe of Indians in 

that part of Massachusetts which .s novy called 

Worcester County, and persuaded them to assist 

him The English sent a party also to this tribe, to 

Sew a formet- treaty, but Phihp's influence pre- 

•1 J onrl ihk nartv were way-laid, and eight of 

r f numbe K Ve remai'nder fled to Brook- 

fi.U nursued by the Indians into the town. Every 
field, P"[^ued ey^i ^^^ ^^^.^^^ ^ 

ine'nto which theinhabitants'had fled for refuge, 
anSthis wa soon surrounded by their foes and for 
two day! they poured into its walls a shower of 
musket balls. ^ Only one person, however, was k.l- 
Td Brands and rags dipped in brimstone, a tach- 
ed to the ends of long poles, were used to fire the 
house arrows of fire were shot against it and a 
carTof tow and other combustibles, was with long 
^nlrsDUshed against the house, and the savages 
Toodready tosfaughterall who should attempt to 

"ai'' Ais awful and critical moment a sudden tor- 
rent oain Extinguished the kindling Aa-es. Ma- 
jor WiUard soon after came to their assistance- 



35 



raised the seige, and after some slaughter of the en- 
emy, compelled them to retreat. 



(18.) Swamp Fight with the Narraganscts, 

Lest Philip sliould increase his power, by an alli- 
ance with the Narraganset Indians, the English 
had made a friendly treaty with them in July, 1675. 
But notwithstanding this, in December of the same 
year, it was discovered that they were secretly aid- 
ing Philip's party. This determined the English 
to undertake a winter expedition against them. For 
this object the colony of Massachusetts furnished 
five hundred and twenty-seven men, Plymouth one 
hundred and fifty-nine, and Connecticut three hun- 
dred ; to all these were attached one hundred and 
fifty Mohegan Indians. After electing Josiah Wins- 
low, Governor of Plymouth colony, to be their 
commander, the whole party met at Pettyquams- 
quot. About sixteen miles from this place it was 
found that the Narragansets had built a strong fort 
in the midst of a large swamp, upon a piece of dry 
land of about five or six acres. This fort was a 
circle of pallisadoes surrounded by a fence of trees 
which was about one rod thick. 

On the 19th of December, 1675, at dawn of day, 
the English took up their march through a deep 
snow, and at 4 o'clock in the afternoon attacked 
the Indians in their fortress. The only entrance 
which appeared practicable, was over a log or tree, 
which lay up 5 or 6 feet from the ground, and this 
opening was commanded by a sort of a block 
house in front. The Massachusetts men, led on by 
their Captains, first rushed into the fort, but the ene- 
my from the block house and other places opened 



36 

so furious a fire upon them that they were obliged to 
retreat. Many men were killed in this assault, and 
among them Captains Johnson and Davenport. 
The whole army then made a united onset. The 
conflict was terrible, some of the bravest Captains 
fell, and victory seemed doubtful. At this crisis, 
some of the Connecticut men ran to the opposite 
side of the fort, where there were no pallisadoes ; 
they sprang in and opened a brisk and well directed 
fire upon the backs of the enemy. This decided 
the contest. The Indians were driven from the 
block house, and from^ one covert to another, until 
they were wholly destroyed or dispersed in the 
wilderness. As they retreated the soldiers set 
fire to their wigwams, (about six hundred in num- 
ber,) which were consumed by the flames. In 
this action it was computed that about seven hun- 
dred fighting Indians perished, and among them^ 
twenty of their chiefs. Three hundred more died 
from their wounds — to these numbers may be add- 
ed many old men, women and children, who had 
retired to this fort as a place of undoubted security,' 

" The burning of the wigwams, the shrieks of 
the women and children, the yelling of the warri-- 
ors, exhibited a most horrid and afiecting scene, so 
that it greatly moved some of the soldiers. They 
were much in doubt whether the burning of their 
enemies ahve, could be consistent with humanity 
and the benevolent principles of the gospel." 

From this blow the Indians never recovered. 
The victory of the English, though complete, was 
dearly purchased; six of their Captains and eighty 
of their men were killed or mortally wounded; and 
one hundred and fifty were wounded who afterwards 
recovered. About one half of the loss of this 
bloody fight fell upon the Connecticut soldiers. 



37 



( 1 9.) Death of King Philip. 

The finishing stroke was given to the Indian 
power in New England by the death of Philip, Au- 
gust 12th, 1676. 

Failing in his attempts to rouse the Mohawk tribe 
to war with the English, he returned to Mount 
Hope — the tide of war against him. The English 
had killed or captured his brother, councillors, and 
chief warriors, his wife and family, and he was 
obliged to flee from one lurking place to another, 
from the pursuit of his foes. Firm and unbroken 
amidst all his misfortunes, he would listen to no 
proposals of peace. He even shot one of his own 
men for daring to suggest it. 

Captain Church, who for his courage and enter- 
prise in this war had acquired renown, received in- 
formation that Philip was in a swamp near Mount 
Hope. To this place he marched immediately, with 
a party of men whom he placed in ambush about 
the swamp, with orders not to move until day- 
light, that they might distinguish Philip. Cap- 
tain Church, confident of success, took Major San- 
ford by the hand, exclaiming, " It is scarcely possi- 
ble that Philip should escape;" at this moment a 
bullet whistled over their heads, and a volley fol- 
lowed. Immediately Philip with his powder horn 
and gun ran fiercely towards a spot where lay con- 
cealed a white man and a friendly Indian. The 
Englishman levelled his gun at Philip, but it miss- 
ed fire. The Indian ally then fired. The bullet 
entered the heart of Philip, and he fell on his face 
in the mire of the swamp. By the order of Cap- 
tain Church his body was drawn from the place 
where he fell, beheaded and quartered. The In- 
dian who executed this order, taking his hatchet, 
4^ 



m 



*M 



38 

thus 'addressed the body of Philip : — "You have 
been one very great man — you have made a many 
a man afraid of you — but so big as you be I will 
chop you in pieces." 

" Thus fell a brave chieftain who defended him- 
self, and what he imagined to be the just rights of 
his countrymen, to the last extremity." 

After the death of Philip, the war continued in 
the province of Maine, till the spring of 1678. 
But westward, the Indians having lost their chiefs, 
wigwams and provisions, and perceiving further 
contest vain, came in singly, and by tens, andby 
hundreds, and submitted to the English. 

Thus closed a melancholy period in the annals 
of New England history ; during which, 600 men, 
in the flower of their strength, had fallen; 12 or 13 
towns had been destroyed, and 600 dwelling houses 
consumed. Every 1 1 th family was houselesSj and 
every 1 1th soldier had sunk to the grave.* 



(^0.) Baeon^s Insurrection in Virginia, 

Virginia, while a Colony of Great Britain, often 
suffered from the oppressive acts of the mother 
country, and their essential interests were often 
sacrificed to individuals in Great Britain. These 
proceedings gave rise to a spirit of opposition in 
many of the colonists, which sometimes broke out 
into open acts of resistance. 

" The malcontents in Virginia, in 1676, taking ad- 
vantage of a war with the Susquehannah Indians, ex- 
cited the people to insurrection. Nathaniel Bacon, 
a bold, seditious, and eloquent young man, who had 

*Goodrich. 



KlnoiciLe Isliamd 




21 Fc 



DMth of ICint^ Fhi7ip 1676 




J"n7-s/n/i^/ //?.' i;,-,/i,'f,/t'.s- 



39 

been concerned in a recent insurrection, now offer- 
ing himself as a leader of the insurgents, was cho- 
sen their General ; and soon after entered James- 
town with six hundred armed followers. Having 
beseiged the grand assembly, then convened in the 
capital, he compelled them to grant whatever he de- 
manded. On finding himself denounced, after his 
departure, as a rebel, by a proclamation of Govern- 
or Berkley, he returned indignantly to Jamestown. 
The aged Governor, unsupported and almost aban- 
doned, fled precipitately to Accomack, on the east- 
ern shore of the colony ; and, collecting those, who 
were well affected towards his government, began 
to oppose the insurgents. Several skirmishes were 
fought with various success. A party of the insur- 
gents burned Jamestown. Those districts of the 
Colony, which adhered to the old administration, 
were laid waste. The estates of the loyalists were 
confiscated. Women^ whose fathers or husbands 
obeyed what they deemed the legal government, 
were carried forcibly along with the soldiers. The 
Governor, in retaliation, seized the estates of many 
of the insurgents, and executed several of their 
leaders by martial law. In the midst of these cala- 
mities, Bacon, the author of them, sickened and di- 
ed ; and the flames of war expired. This rebellion 
cost the Colony one hundred thousand pounds."* 



(21.) The Regicides, 

Soon after the restoration of monarchy in Eng- 
land, many of the Judges who had condemned 
King Charles 1. to death, were apprehended. 
Thirty were condemne4 and ten were executed as 

^Holmes' American Annals, 



40 

traitors ; two of them, Colonels Goffe and Whalley 
made their escape to New England, and arrived in 
Boston, July, 1 660. They were gentlemen of worthy. 
and were much esteemed by the colonists for their un- 
feigned piety. Their manners and appearance 
were dignified, commanding universal respect. 
Whalley had been a Lieutenant General, and Gofte 
a Major General, in Cromwell's army. An or- 
der for their apprehension, from Charles II. reached 
New England soon after their arrival. The King's 
commissioners, eager to execute this order, com- 
pelled the Judges to resort to the woods and caves, 
and other hiding places ; and they would undoubted- 
ly have been taken had not the colonists secretly aid- 
ed and assisted them in their concealments.* Some- 
times they found a refuge in a cave on a mountain 
near New Haven, and at others in cellars of the 
houses of their friends, and once they were secre- 
ted under the neck bridge in New Haven, while their 
pursuers crossed the bridge on horseback. After 
many hair breadth escapes, the pursuit was given 
over, and tbey were finally suffered to die a natural 
death in their exile» 

* While Goffe was secreted ia Hadiey, in 1675, the Indians 
attacked the town, while the inhabitants were at public wor- 
ship. The people were thrown into the utmost confusion, 
till Goffe, entirely unknown to them, white with age, of a 
venerable and commanding aspect, and in an unusual dress, 
suddenly presented himself among them, encouraging the 
affrighted inhabitants, put himself at their head, and by his 
military skill, led them on to an immediate victory. After 
the dispersion of the enemy, he instantly disappeared. The 
wondering inhabitants, alike ignorant from whence he came, 
and where he had retired, imagined him to be an angel, sent 
for their deliverance Stiks^s Hist, Judges, 



4t 

(22.) William Penn. 

The territory of Pennsylvania was granted t© 
William Penn, from whom it derives its name. 
This grant was made by King Charles II. of Eng- 
land, in 1681, in consideration of service rendered 
to the crown by the father of Penn, who was an 
admiral in the English navy. In October, 1682, 
William Penn arrived in the Delaware, with his col- 
ony of Friends or Quakers, He purchased, of the 
natives the land where he proposed to build his 
capital, which he called Philadelphia, or the seat of 
brotherly love, William Penn gave the Indians a 
satisfactory equivalent for all the lands which he 
obtained : and when he paid them, he administered 
such wholesome counsel and advice as proved salu- 
tary to the natives, and greatly endeared him to 
their affections. The treaty of peace, which he 
concluded with them in 1 682, lasted more than seven- 
ty years. He parcelled out lands at moderate rents, 
gpve free toleration to all religious sects, enacted 
mild and equitable laws, and thus invited a rapid 
settlement of the colony. The respect and affec- 
tion which the natives had for Penn, and those of his 
religious tenets, was so great that it is related as a 
fact, that in their wars with the whites, they never 
killed a Quaker^ knowing him to be such. 



(^23.) Tyranny of Andros, 

In the year 1684, it was decided in the high Court 
of Chancery that Massachusetts had forfeited her 
charter, and that henceforth her government should 
be placed in the hands of the King. This event 
was brought about chiefly by the instrumental- 



42 

ity of Edmund Andros. This man had beer* 
sent over as a kind of spy on the Colonies ; he made 
it his business to collect charges against the Colo- 
nies, and return to England and excite the jealousy 
of the British government. In this manner, the way 
was prepared for annulling the Colonial charters 
In December, 1686, Andros arrived in Boston 
being commissioned by King James as Gover- 
nor General, and Vice Admiral over New England, 
New York and the Jersies. Like all tyrants, Sir 
Edmund began his administration with professions 
of high regard for the public welfare. In a few 
months, however, the prospect was changed. — The 
press was restrained, liberty of conscience infringed^ 
and exorbitant taxes were levied. The charters 
being vacated, it was pretended all titles to lands 
were destroyed ; farmers, therefore, who had culti- 
vated their soil for half a century, were obliged to 
take new patents, giving large fees, or writs of intru- 
sion were bought, and their lands sold to others,' 
To prevent petitions or consultations, town meet- 
ings were prohibited, excepting once in a year for 
thp choice of town officers. Lest cries of oppres- 
sion should reach the throne, he forbid any to leav9 
the country without permission from the govern- 
ment.* 

In J 689, King James having abdicated the throne,. 
William, prince of Orange, and Mary, daughter of 
James, were proclaimed in February. A report of 
the landhig of William in England, reached Boston, 
bi;t before the news of the entire revolution in the 
British government arrived, a most daring one was 
effected in New-England. 

* Morse's History of New England. 



4^ 

The cdlonists had borne the impositions of 
/Andros's government about three years. Their pa- 
tience was now exhausted. On the morning of 
April 1 8th the pubHc fury burst forth like a volcanOc 
The inhabitants of Boston were in arms and the peo- 
ple from t\\e country poured in to their assistance 
Andros and' his associates fled to a fort, resistance 
was vainj he was made a prisoner, and sent to Eng- 
land. 



(24.) Preservation of the Charter of Cormecticuic 

Sir Edmund Andros, being appointed the first 
governor general over New England, arrived at 
Boston in December, 1686. From this place he 
wrote to the colony of Connecticut to resign their 
charter ; but without success. " The assembly met 
as usual, in October, and the government continue(l 
.according to charter until the last of the month. 
About this time, Sir Edmund, with his suit, and more 
than sixty regular troops, came to Hartford when 
the assembly were sitting and demanded the char- 
ter, and declared the government under it to be dis- 
solved. The assembly were extremely reluctant 
and slow with respect to any resolve to surrender 
the charter, or with respect to any motion to bring 
it forth. The tradition is, that Governor Tre^t 
strongly represented the great expense and hardships 
of the colonists, in planting the country, the blood 
and treasure which they had expended in defending 
it, both against the savages and foreigners ; to 
what hardships and dangers he himself had been 
exposed for that purpose ; and that it was like giv- 
ing up his life, now to surrender the patent and priv,- 



44 

ilcges, so dearly bought and so long enjoyed. The 
important affair was debated and kept in suspense 
until the evening, when the charter was brought 
and laid upon the table, where the assembly were 
sitting. By this time great numbers of people were 
assembled, and men sufficiently bold to enterprise 
•whatever might be necessary or expedient. The 
lights were instantly extinguished, and one Captain 
Wadsworth, of Hartford, in the most silent and se- 
cret manner, carried off the charter, and secreted 
it in a large hollow tree, fronting the house of the 
Honorable Samuel Wyllys, then one of the magis- 
trates of the colony. The people appeared all 
peaceable and orderly. The candies were offi- 
ciously relighted, but the patent was gone, and no 
discovery could be made of it, or the person who 
had conveyed it away* Sir Edmund assumed the 
government, and the records of the colony were 
closed in the folio-wing words : 

"At a general court at Hartford, October 31st, 
1687, His excellency Sir Edmund Andros, knight, 
and captain general and governor of his Majesty's 
territories and dominions in New England, by order 
from his Majesty, James the II. king of England, 
Scotland, France, and Ireland, the 31st of October 
1687, took into his hands the government of the 
Colony of Connecticut, it being, by his Majesty, an- 
nexed to Massachusetts and other Colonies under 
his Excellency's government. Fims." 

TrwnbulPs History of ComiceticuL 



(25.) Destruction of Schenectady, 

In the war between England and France, in tlie 
^^ear 1689, the French, who then possessed Canada^ 





Jt'fiTi's TrdLrty with the' InJi<i7i' 




Ufstrnctii'Ti of ,\iu'n^f^7dy 



45 

instigated the Indians to hostilities against the Col- 
onies. A detachment of between two and three 
hundred French and Indians were sent from Mont- 
real against the frontiers of New York. A march of 
more than twenty days in the depth of winter 
brought them to Schenectady, February 8th, 1690. 
In this march they had been reduced to such 
straits that they had thoughts of surrendering them- 
selves prisoners of war. But their scouts brought 
to them information that the inhabitants were in a 
state of unsuspecting security, — upon this they deter- 
mined to attack them. On Saturday night, about 
eleven o'clock, they entered the town through an 
unguarded point, and that they might invest every 
house at the same time, they divided into parties of 
six or seven men each. The inhabitants were in a 
profound sleep and unalarmed until the enemy had 
broken open their doors. In this dreadful surprise 
and consternation successful resistance was impos- 
sible, and this wretched people were aroused from 
their midnight slumbers, to endure the perpetration 
of savage and inhuman barbarities, too shocking 
here to record. Sixty of the inhabitants were killed 
and twenty taken off captives. To crown their 
work, the enemy set on fire the village, killed most 
of the cattle and the horses, and those which were 
spared, they drove off, laden with plunder. Those 
of the people who escaped, fled almost naked 
through a deep snow, and in a heavy storm ; twen- 
ty five of whom lost the use of their limbs by the 
.severe frost. 



4G 

\^zo.) Fii'st Culture of Rice in the Colonies* 

The planting of Rice was introduced into Care* 
lina, abont the year 1695. Incidents, apparently 
small, are often productive of important consequen- 
ces. A brigantine from Madagascar, touching at 
Carolina on her way to Great Britain, came to an- 
chor off Sullivan's Island. Landgrave Smith, on invi- 
tation of the Captain, paid him a visit on board his 
vessel, and received from him a present of a bag of 
seed rice, with information of its growth in eastern 
countries ; of its suitableness for food ; and of its 
incredible increase. The Governor divided his bag 
of rice among some of his friends ; who agreeing to 
make an experiment, planted their parcels in differ- 
ent soils. The success fully equalled their 
expectation ; and from this small beginning arose the 
staple commodity of Carolina, which soon became 
the chief support of the Colony, and the great 
source of its opulence. Holmes'^ Amials, Vol, 2. 



(27.) Salem Witchcraft, 

The year 1692 is memorable in New England for 
the convulsion produced in Salem and its vicinity 
by the supposed prevalence of Witchcraft. Many 
were supposed to be bezvitchcd, and would complain 
of being bitten, pinched, pricked with pins, kc; 
some declared that they beheld a spectral repre- 
sentation of the person whom they said was the cause 
of their affliction. Some were struck dumb, others 
had their limbs distorted in a shocking manner^ 
sometimes running on their hands and feet, creeping 
through holes, and under chairs, tables, (Sic. ; bark^ 



47 

mg like a dog, with other actions equally strange 
and unaccountable. . Upon the accusation and tes- 
limony of persons thus afflicted, many were impris- 
oned, and nineteen were executed for practising 
witchcraft., most of whom died professing their inno- 
cence.* The evil became awfully alarming; the 
most respectable persons in the country were accus- 
ed ; but the magistrates finally acquitted those who 
were accused, and the menacing storm blew over to 
the great joy of the inhabitants. 

At this period many learned and eminent men, 
both in England and America, fully believed in the 
existence of witchcraft. Sir Matthew Hale, one of 
the brightest ornaments of the English bench, re- 
peatedly tried and condemned persons as criminals, 
who were brought before him charged with this 
crime. — It must be confessed, that notwithstanding 
all the obloquy and contempt which is^now cast upon 
our forefathers for believing in the existence of 
witchcraft, many things took place at that time, 

*A cotemporary writer observes: "As to the method 
which the Salem Justices do take in their examinatione, it is 
truly this : A warrant being- issued out to apprehend the per- 
sons that are charg-ed and complained of by the afflicted 
children, as they are called ; said persons are brought before 
(he justices, (he afflicted being present. The justices ask 
the apprehended why they afflict those poor children ; to 
which the apprehended answer, they do not afflict them. 
The justices order the apprehended to look upon the said chil- 
dren, which accordingly they do ; and at the time of that look 
(I dare not say by that look as the Salem gentlemen do,) the 
afflicted are cast into a fit. The apprehended are then blind- 
ed, and ordered to touch the afflicted ; and at that touch, 
though not by the touch, (as above,) the afflicted do ordinarily 
come out of their fits. The afflicted persons then declare 
and affirm, that the apprehended have afflicted them ; upon 
which the apprehended persons, though of never so good re- 
put?, are forthwith committed to prison on suspicion of 
svitchcraft." 



48 

(if we can credit the accounts given by many re- 
spectable witnesses,) which would be extremely 
difficult to account for, on natural principles. 

(28.) Captain Kidd^ the Pirate, 

Capt. Robert Kidd, in the beginning of King 
William's war, commanded a privateer in the West 
Indies, and by several adventurous actions acquired 
the reputation of a brave man, as well as an expe- 
rienced seaman. About this time the pirates were 
very troublesome in those parts: whereupon Capt. 
KiiJd ,was recommended by Lord JB( lUiniont, (liien 
Governor of Barbadoes,) to the British government 
as a person very fit to be entrusted with the com- 
mand of a government ship, for the purpose of sup- 
pressing piracy. The proposal, however, through 
some cause, met widi no encoura,2;enient from the 
government; whereupon Lord Bellamont, and some 
others, who know of great captures which had been 
made by the pirates, and what prodigious w^ealth 
must be in their possession, were temjjted to fit out 
a ship at their own private charge, and to give the 
command of her to Capt. Kidd ; and to give the 
thing a greater reputation, as well !^s to keep their 
seamen under better command, they procured the 
King's commission for Capt. Kidd. This commis- 
sion was dated at Kensington, Jan. 26, 1695, in the 
seventh year of the reign of King William the third. 
Kidd having received this commission for the sup- 
pression of piracy, sailed from Plymouth, England, 
in the Adventure galley, of 30 guns and 80 men ; 
and arrived in New York, where he had a family. 
Here he held out great encouragement for others to 
join him, and he soon increased his company to 155 
men. 



49 

With this company he procoeded to the Madeiras, 
and Cape Verde Islands, and from thence to the 
East Indies, in order to suppress piracies. Alter hav- 
ing cruised about in those seas for some time without 
any success, he formed the resolution of becoming 
a pirate himself. Finding his crew nnt averse to 
such a course, they accordingly commenced the 
practice uf robbing. After having taken a number 
of rich prizes, Kidd returned to America, and land- 
ing at Boston openly, he was taken, sent to England, 
and executed at Execution Dock, with six of his 
companions, and afterwards hung in chains, at some 
distance from each other, down the river, where 
their bodies hung exposed for many years. 

The remembrance of Capt. Kidd is kept ahve in 
the eastern States by the circumstance of his having 
buried large sums of money, it is believed, some- 
where on the coast. There have been many at- 
tempts made to discover this treasure by digging, 
&c. at various places : — how much of it has been 
found, or whether there has been any found at all, 
is a matter which would be difficult to ascertain. 



(29.) Great Snow Storm* 

In" February, 1717, fell the greatest snow, ever 
known in this country, or perhaps in any other. So 
deep was the snow, that people stepped out of their 
chamber windows on snow shoes ; with this fall of 
snow there was a terrible tempest. Eleven hun- 
dred sheep, the property of one man, were found 
dead ; one flock of a hundred, on Fisher's Island, 
were found buried sixteen feet in the snow ; two of 
them only were alive, they having subsisted on the 
wool of their companions twenty eight days after 
the storm. 

5* 



50 
(30.) Dark Days. 

We find recorded in History instances of extrenre 
darkness in the day time, and in some cases, this 
obscurity has lasted for a number of days. The 
19th of May, 1780, was distinguished by the phe- 
nomenon of a remarkable darkness over all the 
northern States, and is still called the Dark day,* ■ 

The darkness commenced between the hours of 
ten and eleven, A. M., and continued till the middle 
of the next night. It was occasioned by a thick 
vapor or cloud, tinged with a yellow color, or faint 
red, and a thin coat of dust was deposited on white 
substances.! 

The wind was at the southwest ; and the dark- 
ness appeared to come on with clouds in that direc- 
tion. Its extent was from Falmouth, (Maine,) to 
New Jersey. The darkness appears to have been 
the greatest in the county of Essex, (Mass.,) in 
the lower part of New Hampshire, and Maine ; it 
was also great in Rhode Island and Connec- 
ticut. ^In most parts of the country where the dark- 
ness prevailed, it was so great, that persons were 
unable to read common print, determine the time of 
day by their clocks or watches, dine, or manage 
their domestic business, w^ithout additional light ; 

*At tbis time the Legislature of Connecticut was in ses- 
sion in Hartford. A very g-eneral opinion prevailed, thai the 
day of judgment was at hand. The House of Representa- 
tives, being unable to transact their business, adjourned. A 
proposal to adjourn the Council was under consideration. 
When the opinion of Col. Davenport was asked, he answer- 
ed, " I am against an adjournment. The day of judgment 
is either approaching or it is not. If it is not, there is no 
cause for an adjournment : if it is, I choose to be found do- 
ing my duty. 1 wish therefore that candles may be brought.'*' 

DwighCs Travels J Vol. 3, 

t Webster. 



5t 

'^ candies were lighted up in their houses ; the birds 
having sung their evening songs, disappeared and be- 
came silent 5 the fowls retired to roost ; the cocks 
were crowing all around as at brefk of day ; objects 
could not be distinguished but at a very little dis- 
tance ; and every thing bore the appearance and 
gloom of night."* 

Beside this instance of uncommon darkness, there 
was one on the 21st of October, 1716; when "people 
were forced to light candles to eat their dinners by,'^ 
but the particulars of it are not preserved..! 



(31.) Korthern Lights, 

From the earliest times, we have some imperfect 
accounts of lights in the sky ; and superstition has 
represented them as the forerunners of bloody wars 
and other calamities. Sometimes historians speak of 
them as troops of men, armed and rushing to battle. 
For about three hundred years past, our accounts of 
northern lights, are tolerably correct. There was 
a discontinuance of them eighty or ninety years, 
anterior to 1707, when a small light was seen by 
persons in Europe. But they did not re-appear, in 
full splendor, till the year 1716, when they were ob- 
served in England. Their first appearance in 
America w'as December 11, 1719, when they were 
remarkably bright, and as people in general had 
never heard of such a phenomenon, they were ex- 
tremely alarmed, with the apprehension of the ap- 
proach of the final judgment. All amusements, 
all business, and even sleep was interrupted for 
want of a little knowledge of history. From 1719 

* Coll. Hist. Soc. I. 95-98. f Philosophical Trans. No. 423. 



52 

to 1790, these lights were frequent, when they 
again disar^pe'Te I for ten or twelve years. 

Webster* s Elements of Useful Knowledge. 

A beautiful phenomenon (connected, as is supposed with 
the Boreal Lights,) was seen in the northern States, on the 
28th of August, 1827. The following description is taken 
from the American Journal of Science and Arts, 14th vol. 
Art. i6lh. " In this city (JVew York) it was first observed 
at about half past nine, P. M., at which time the light, ex- 
cepting as regards its whitish hue, resembled that produced 
by a fire at some distance. The light soon however became 
more intense, and its outline more distinctly defined, gradu- 
ally assuming a columnar shape, and extending from about 
N N". W to a point in the opposite horizon, about E. N. E. 
In about 10 or 15 minutes from the time 1 first observed it, 
waves of light in dt tached masses, but all in the line of the 
luminous arch,began to flow from the eastern towards the west- 
ern part of its course, until the whole were blended, and the 
heavens were adorned with the beautiful arch extending from 
the terminations above named to a point about 15 degrees north 
of the Zenith. The greatest breadth of the arch at its centre, 
was about 9 or 10 degrees, tapering from that point to the 
western extremity, (where the light was much brighter,) al- 
most to a point. . . . The whole arch moved with a gradual 
motion towards the south, and passed the Zenith, presenting a 
broad, bright band of wavy light. As it passed the Zenith to- 
wards the south, its eastern limb became less distinct, while 
the western part became more exact in its outline, and was as 
well defined, as a pencil of rays passed through a prism into 
a dark room. The color was a bright white, and slowly faded, 
until about two hours from the time of its first appearance, 
when it was no longer visible." About 50 or 60 years since, 
similar appearances were observed in the northern States. 



(32.) Gov. Fletcher^ and Capt, Wadsworth, 

In 1692, Col. Fletcher arrived with the commis- 
sion of Governor of New York, and was also vested 
with plenary powers of commanding the whole mi- 



iitia of Connecticut : and insisted on the exercise 
of that command. The Legislature of Conneciicut, 
knowing that authority to be expressly given to the 
Colony by chartei', would not submit to his requisi- 
tion ; but the Colony, desirous of maintaining a 
good understanding with Gov. Fletcher, sent Wil- 
liam Pitkin, Esq. to New York, to make terms with 
him respecting the militia, until his Majesty\s pleas- 
ure should be furthei' known. No terms however 
could be made v/ith the Governor, short of an ex- 
plicit submission of the militia to his command. On 
the 2Gth Oct. 1693, he came to Hartford, while the 
Assembly were sitting, and, in his Majesty's name 
demanded that submission. The Assembly reso- 
lutely persisted in a refusal. After the requisition 
had been repeatedly made, with plausible explana- 
tions, and serious menaces, Fletcher ordered his 
commission and instructions to be read in audience 
of the trainbands of Hartford, which had been 
prudentially assembled, upon his order. Capt. 
Wadsworth, the senior officer, who was at that mo- 
ment exercising the soldiers, instantly called out, 
" Beat the drums," which in a moment overwhelm- 
ed every voice. Fletcher commanded silence. 
No sooner was a second attempt made to read, than 
Wadsworth vociferated, " Drum, drum, I say." 
The drummers instantly beat up again with the great- 
est possible spirit. "Silence, silence," exclaimed the 
Governor. At the first moment of a pause, Wads- 
worth called out earnestly, '' Drum, drum, I say ;" 
and turning to his Excellency, said, " If I am inter- 
rupted again, 7 will make the sun ^^ shine ihroygh you 
in a moment.'^'' This decision produced its proper 
effect; and the Governor and his suit soon returned 
to New York* Holmes^ American Annals^ 



(33.) Wa7' with the Tuscaroras. 

In 1710, a large number of German emigrants 
arrived in this country and settled in North Cai'olina. 
Two years after their arrival, the Tuscaroras, Co- 
rees, and other tribes of Indians, formed a deep con- 
spiracy for the extermmation of the English settlers. 
Having fortified the chief town in the Tuscarora 
nation, for the security of their own families, the 
different tribes met at this place, to the number of 
1200 warriors, and laid the horrible plot, which 
was concerted and executed with stability and 
great secrecy. From this place of rendezvous they 
sent out small parties which entered the settlements 
by different roads^ under the mask of freindship. 
When the night agreed on had arrived, they enter- 
ed the houses of the settlers and demanded provis- 
ions ; and feigning displeasure, fell upon them, 
and murdered men, women and children, without 
distinction. About Roanoke, 137 persons per- 
ished in the massacre. A few persons esca ping- 
gave the. alarm to their neighbors the next morn- 
ing, and thus prevented the entire destruction of the 
Colony. 

Governor Craven, of South Carolina, as soon as 
he heard of this massacre immediately sent Col. 
Barnwell with 600 militia and 360 friendly Indians, 
against these savages. Marching through a hideous 
wilderness, Barnwell came up with the enemy, 
and attacked them with great effect. In this action 
he killed 300 Indians, and took about 100 prisoners. 
The survivors fled to their fortified town, where Col. 
Barnwell surrounded them and killed a great num- 
ber, and compelled the remainder to sue for peace. 
Jtis estimated that in this expedition, nearly a thou- 
sand of the Tuscaroras were killed, wounded, and 



55 

taken prisoners. Of Barnwell's men five were kil- 
led, and several wounded; of his Indians thirty-six 
were killed, and between sixty and seventy woun- 
ded.* 

"Never had any expedition against the savages 
in Carolina been attended with such hazards and 
difficulties; nor had the conquest of any tribe of 
them ever been more general and complete." — - 
Most of the Tuscaroras, who escaped, abandoned 
■heir country, settled among the Five Nations, and 
added a sixth tribe, since which time they have been 
:alled the Six Nations. 



(34.) War with the Yamasees, 

In the year 1715, an Indian war broke out in 
^outh Carolina, which threatened a total extirpa- 
:ion of the Colony. The numerous and powerful 
:ribe of the Yamasees, possessing a large territory 
3ack of Port Royal island, were the most active 
n this conspiracy. On the fifteenth of April, about 
3reak of day, the cries of war gave universal 
ilarm ; and, in a few hours, above ninety persons 
;vere maj'^sacred in Pocataligo and the neighboring 
3lantations. A Captain of the militia, escaping to 
Port Royal, alarmed the town ; and a vessel hap- 
>ening to be in the harbor, the inhabitants repaired 
Drecipitately on board, sailed for Charleston, and 
hus providentially escaped a massacre. A few 
amilies of planters on the island, not having timely 
lotice of the danger, fell into the hands of the sav^ 
iges. 



* Holmes' Annals 



56 

While some Indian tribes were thus advancing 
against the southern frontiers and spreading desola- 
tion through the province, formidable parlies from 
the other tribes were penetrating into the settlements 
on the northern borders ; for every tribe, from Flor- 
ida to Cape Fear, was concerned in the conspiracy. 
The capital trembled for its own perilous situation. 
In this moment of universal terror, although there 
were no more than one thousand two hundred men 
in the muster roll, fit to bear arms ; yet the Govern- 
or resolved to march with tliis small fo^^^e against 
the enemy. He proclaimed martial law ; laid an 
embargo on all ships, to prevent either men or pro- 
visions from leaving the country ; and obtained an 
act of assembly, empowering him to imp;-ess men, 
and seize arms, ammunition and stores, wherever 
they were to be found; to arm trusty negroes ; and 
to prosecute the war with the utmost vigor. Agents 
were sent to Virginia and England, to solicit assis- 
tance; and bills were stamped for the payment of 
the army and other expenses. 

The Indians on the northern quarter, about fifty 
miles from Charleston, having murdered a family 
on a plantation ; Capt. Barker, receiving intelli- 
gence of their approach, collected a party of ninety 
horsemen, and advanced against them. Trusting 
however to an Indian guide, he was led into an am- 
buscade, and slain with several of his men. The 
rest retreated in confusion. A party of four hun- 
dred Indians came down as low as Goose Creek; 
Avhere seventy men and forty negroes had surroun- 
ded themselves with a breast work, with the resolu- 
tion of maintaining their post. Discouraged, how- 
ever, almost as soon as attacked, they rashly agreed 
to terms of peace ; but on admitting the enemy 



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51 

within their works, they were barbarously murdered. 
The Indians now advanced still nearer to Charles- 
ton ; but were repulsed by the militia. 

In the mean time, the Yamasces, with their con- 
federates, had spread destruction through the par- 
ish of St. Bartholomew, and proceeded down to 
Stono. Governor Cravan, advancing towards the 
wily enemy, with cautious steps, dispersed their 
straggling parties, until he reached Saltcatchers, 
where they had pitched their camp. Here was 
fought a severe and bloody battle, from behind 
trees and bushes; the Indians with their terrible 
war whoops, alternately retreating, and returning 
with double fury to the charge. The Governor, 
undismayed, pressed elosely on them with his pro- 
vincials ; drove them from their territory ; pursued 
them over Savannah river; and thus expelled 
them from the province. 

In this Indian war, nearly four hundred of the 
inhabitants of Carolina were slain. The Yama- 
sees, after their expulsion, went directly to the 
Spanish territories in Florida, where they were hos- 
pitably received. — Holmes* American Ammls^ 



(35.) Inoculation Introduced, 

The inoculation of small pox was first perform- 
■ed in the English dominions, in April, 1721, upon 
a daughter of the celebrated Lady M. W. Mon- 
tague, who had become acquainted with inocula- 
tion as practised by Turkish women, during hrr 
residence in Constantinople, 

About this time, Dr. Zabdiel Boyelston, of Boston, 
was induced to adopt the same expedient, from 
reading an account of inoculation, and made his 
6 



58 

lirst experiment by inoculating his only son and 
two negro servants, on the 27th June, 1721. 
Probably there never was greater opposition to any 
measure of real public utility, than was exhibited 
on this occasion. Dr. Boyleston was execrated 
and persecuted as a murderer, assaulted in the 
streets, and loaded with every species of abuse. 
His house was attacked with violence, 50 that nei- 
ther himself nor his family could feel secure in it. 
At : one time he remained fourteen days in a secret 
apartment of his own house, unknown to any of his 
family except his wife. The enraged inhabitants 
patrolled the town in parties, with halters in theii' 
hands, threatening to hang him on the nearest tree, 
and repeatedly entered his house in search of him, 
during his concealment. Such was the niadness of 
the multitude, that even after the excitement had 
in some measure subsided. Dr. Boyleston only ven- 
tured *to visit his patients at midnight, and then in 
disguise. He had also to encounter violent opposi- 
tion from most of the members of his own profes- 
sion, and notwithstanding he invited them all to vi- 
sit his patients, and judge for themselves, received 
nothing but threats and insults in reply. Indeed, 
many sober, pious people, were deliberately of 
opinion, when inoculation was first commenced, 
that should any of his patients die, the Doctor ought 
to be capitally indicted. He was repeatedly sum- 
moned before the selectmen of Boston, and receiv- 
ed their reprehension. His only friends were Dr. 
Cotton Mather, and other clergymen, most of whom 
became zealous advocates for the new practice, 
and consequently drew upon themselves much odi- 
um from the populace. Some of them received 
personal injury ; others were insulted in the streets, 
and were hardly safe in their own dwellings; nor 



59 

were their services acceptable on Sunday to their 
respective audiences. 

A bill for prohibiting the practice of inoculation, 
under severe penalties, was brought before the Le- 
gislature of Massachusetts, and actually passed the 
House of Representatives, but some doubts exist- 
ing in the Senate, it failed of becoming a law. 

Dr. Boyleston lived to see the cause he espoused 
triumphant, and its utility generally appreciated. 
So prone are mankind to vacillate from one extreme 
to the other, that, on a subsequent appearance of 
the small pox in Boston, in the year 1792, the 
whole town was inoculated in three days, to ap- 
pease the infatuation of the inhabitants respecting 
the danger apprehended from this deadly pesti- 
lence. Persons were inoculated indiscriminately, 
to the number of 9,152; and such was the hurry 
and confusion with which it was done, and such the 
impossibility of rendering proper assistance and at- 
tention to so large a number, that 165 deaths was 
the consequence. — Connecticut Journal. 



(36.) Father Ralle\ the French Jesuit, 

During the war between England and France, 
and while Canada was in the possession of the latter 
power, the Indians were often instigated by them, 
to fall on the frontier settlements of the British Co- 
lonies. In these proceedings, the French Govern- 
or of Canada was much assisted by the Roman 
Catholic Missionaries, who had attained a great as- 
cendancy over the Indians. 

One of the most celebrated of these missionaries, 
was Father Sebastian Ralle\ a French Jesuit, who 
spent thirty-seven years among the Indian tribes, 



60 

in the interior parts of America; and learned most 
of their languages. He was a man of learning and 
address ; and by a gentle, condescending deport- 
ment, and a compliance with the Indian modes and 
customs, he obtained a complete ascendancy over 
the natives ; and used his influence to promote the 
interests of the French among them. " He even 
made the offices of devotion, serve as incentives to 
their ferocity; and kept a flag, on which was depict- 
ed, a ci'oss, surrounded by bozvs and arrows, which 
he used to hoist on a pole at the door of his church, 
when he gave them absolution, previous to their en- 
gaging in any warlike enterprize." A dictionary of 
the Norridgwock language was found among Ralle''s 
papers, composed by himself, and it was deposited 
in the Library of Harvard College. 

The English settlers, having for a number of 
years suffered from the depredations of the Indians 
in those parts, in the year 1722, sent Col, West, 
brook, with 230 men to seize Ralle', who was re- 
garded as the principal instigator ; but he escaped 
into the woods, and they^ merely brought ofl" his 
strong box of papers. The Indians, to revenge this 
attempt to carry off their spiritual father, commit- 
ted various acts of hostility, and at length destroy- 
ed the town of Berwick. This last act, determined 
the government to issue a declaration of war, and 
send an expedition against Norridgwock, and en- 
trust the execution of it to Captains Moulion and 
Harman. These officers, each at the head of one 
hundred men, invested and surprised that village, 
killed the obnoxious Jesuit, with about eighty of his 
Indians, recovered three captives, destroyed the 
chapel, brought away the plate and furniture of the 



ei 

altar, and a devotloi^ial flag, as trophies of their vie- 



(37.) Xaichez Indians Extirpated* 

In 17:29, the Natchez, an Indian nation on the Mis- 
sissippi, formed a general conspiracy to massacre the 
French Colunisls of Louisiana. M. de Chepar, who 
commanded at the post of the Natchez, had beeri 
somewhat embroiled with the natives ; but they so far 
dissembled, as to excite the belief, that the French 
had no allies more faithful than they. The plot 
having been deeply laid, they appeared in great 
numbers about the French houses, on the 28th of 
November, telling the people that they were going 
a hunting. They sang after the calumet, in honor 
of the French commandant and his company. 
Each having returned to his post, a signal was giv- 
en, and instantly the general massacre began. 
Two hundred Frenchmen were killed. Of all the 
people at Natchez, not more than twenty French, 
and five or six negroes, escaped. One hundred 
and fifty children, eighty women, and nearly as 
many negroes were made prisoners. 

M. Perier, Governor of Louisiana, resolved on 
an expedition against the Natchez, to revenge their 
massacre of the French. M. le Sueur, whom he 
had sent to the Choctaws, to engage their assist- 
ance, arrived in February near the Natchez, at the 
head of fifteen or sixteen hundred Choctaw war- 
riors ; and was joined in March by a body of French 
troops under M. de Loubois, King's Lieutenant, 
who had the chief command of the expedition. 
The army encamped near the ruins of the old 



*Holmes' .American Annals. 
6* 



62 

French settlement ; and, after resting there live 
days, marched to the enemy's fort, which was a 
league distant. After opening the trenches, and 
firing several days on the fort without much effect, 
the French at last approached so near, that the 
Natchez sent conditional proposals of releasing all 
the French women and children in their possessipn ; 
but, gaining time by negociation, they silently eva- 
cuated the fort in the night, with all their baggage 
and the French plunder. The French prisoners 
however were ransomed ; the stockade fort of the 
Natchez was demolished ; a terrace fort built in its 
place ; and a garrison of a hundred and twenty mea 
left there with cannon and ammunition, 

M. Perier, learning afterwards, that the Natchez 
had retired to the wTst of the Mississippi, near the 
Silver Creek, about sixty leagues from the mouth 
of Red River, applied to the French court for suc- 
cors to reduce them. M. Perier de Salvert, brother 
of the Governor, arriving from France with a hun^ 
dred and fifty soldiers of the marine ; the two bro- 
thers set out with their army, and arrived without ob- 
struction near the retreat of the Natchez. The en- 
emy, terrified at their approach, shut themselves up 
in a fort which they had built ; but were soon forced, 
by the fire from the French mortars, to make signals 
for capitulation. The French army carried the 
Natchez to New Orleans, where they were confined 
.in separate prisons; and afterwards were transport- 
/ ed, as slaves, to St. Domingo. Thus that nation, 
the most illustrious in Louisiana, and the most use- 
ful to the French, was destroyed. — Holmes^ Ameri^ 
6<m Annals. 



6.3 



(38.) Kegro Insurrection in Carolina. 

In 1738, the Spaniards attempted to seduce the 
Negroes of South Carolina, who amounted at that 
time to the formidable number of forty thousand. 

Liberty and protection had long been promised 
and proclaimed to them by the Spaniards at St. Au- 
gustine ; and emissaries had been sent among them, 
to persuade them to fly from slavery to Florida, 
The influence of these measures was such as might 
have been expected. An insurrection of negroes 
broke out, this year, in the heart of Carohna. A 
number of them, having collected at Stono, surpri- 
sed and killed two men in a warehouse, from which 
they took guns and ammunition ; chose a Captain ; 
and, with colors and drums, began a march toward 
the southwest, burning every house, and killing ev^ 
ery white person in their way, and compelling the 
negroes to join them. Governor Bull, returning to 
Charleston from the southward, and meeting them 
armed, hastened out of their way and spread the 
alarm. It soon reached WiUown, where a large 
Presbyterian assembly was attending divince ser- 
vice. The men, who, according lo a law of the 
province, had brought their arms to the place 
of worship, left the women in the church, and 
instantly marched in quest of the negroes, who, by 
this time had become formidable, and spread deso- 
lation above twelve miles. Availing themselves of 
their superior military skill, and of the intoxication 
of several of the negroes, they attacked the great 
body of them in the open field, killed some, and 
dispersed the rest. Most of the fugitives were ta** 
ken and tried. They, who had been compelled to 



64 

join the conspirators, were pardoned ; but all the 
chosen leaders and first insurgents suffered death. 
Holmes^ American Annals, 



(39.) Invasion of Georgia. 

In 1742, two years after the declaration of war- 
by England against Spain, the Spaniards attacked 
Georgia. A Spanish armament, consiting of thirty- 
two sail, with three thousand men, under command 
of Don Manuel de Monteano, sailed from St. Au- 
gustine, and arrived in the river Altamaha. The 
expedition, although fitted out at great expense, 
failed of accomplishing its object. 

General Oglethorpe was at this time time at fort 
Simons. Finding himself unable to retain possession 
of it, having but about seven hundred men, he spi- 
ked his cannony and, destroying his military stores, 
retreated to his head quarters at Frederica. 

On the first prospect of an invasion. General Ogle- 
thorpe had applied to the Governor of South Caro- 
lina for assistance, but the Carolinians, fearing for 
the safety of their own territory, and not approving 
of General Oglethorpe's magagement in his late 
expedition against St, Augustine, dechned furnish- 
ing, troops, but voted supplies. 

In this state of danger and perplexity, the Gene- 
ral resorted to s^tratagem. A French soldier be- 
longing to his army, deserted to the enemy. Fear- 
ing the consequences of their learning his weakness, 
he devised a plan by which to destroy the credit of 
any information that the deserter might give. 

With this view, he wrote a letter to the French 
deserter in the Spanish camp, addi-essing him as if 
he were a spy of the English. This letter he bribed 



ti Spanish ca-ptive to deliver, in which he directed 
the deserter to state to the Spaniards, that he was 
in a weak and defenceless condition, and to urge 
them to an attack. 

Should he not be able, however, to persuade 
them to do this, he wished him to induce them '.o con- 
tinue three days longer at their quarters, in which 
time he expected two thousand men, and six Brit- 
ish men of war, from Carolinia. The above letter,- 
as was intended, was delivered to the Spanish Gene- 
ral, instead of the deserter, who immediately put the 
latter in irons, 

A council of war was called, and while delibe- 
yating upon the measures which should be taken, 
three supply ships, which had been voted by Caro- 
lina, appeared in sight. Imagining these to be the 
men of war, alluded to in the letter, the Spaniards, 
in great haste, fired the fort, and embarked, leav- 
ing behind them several cannon, and a quantity of 
provision. By this artful, but unjustifiable expedi- 
ent, the country was relieved of its invaders, and 
Georgia, and probably a great part of South Caro- 
lina was saved from ruin. — GoodricJi's History of 
the United States. 



(40.) Capture of Louishurg* 

Great Britain having declared 
France, in March, 1744, the Legislature of Massa- 
chusetts planned a daring, but successful enterprize 
against Louisburg, a strong fortress, belonging to 
the French, on the island of Cape Breton. The 
place had been fortified by the French, at an ex- 
pense of five millions and a half of dollars, and on 
account of its strength, was sometimes called the 



66 

" Gibraltar of America." About 4000 troopsr,- 
from Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hamp- 
shire, under the command of Col. William Peper- 
ell, sailed from Boston in the last week in March, 
1745. The expedition was undertaken without the 
knowledge of the government of England ; but a 
request had been made to Commodore Warren, then 
in the West Indies, to assist the expedition. He 
accordingly arrived at Louisburg, with a 60 gun 
ship, and two or three frigates. In the last of 
April, the troops, 3,S00 in number, landed at Cha- 
peaurogue bay. " The transports had been dis- 
covered early in the morning from the tow^n, which 
was the first notice they had of the design. In the 
night of May 2, 400 men burned the warehouses, 
containing the naval stores. The French were 
alarmed, spiked their guns, flung their powder into 
a well, and abandoning the fort, fled to the city. 
The New England troops cheerfully submitted to 
extreme hardships; for 14 nights successively, they 
were yoked together like oxen, dragging can- 
non and mortars through a morass of two miles* 
The commanding artillery of the enemy forbade 
this toil in the da}^ No people on earth, perhaps, are 
more capable of such laborious and daring exploits, 
than the independent farmers of New England. On 
the 17th of June, the garrison capitulated, but the 
fiag of France was kept flying, which decoyed into 
the harbor, ships of the enemy, to the value of 
/600,000 sterling. The weather, during the siege, 
was fine, but the day following the rains began, 
%vhich continued 10 days, and must have proved 
fatal to the provincial troops, had not the capitu- 
lation prevented. The people of New England 
were deeply affected by this evident interposition of 
divine Providence." 



6? 



(41.) D^AnvilWs Expedition^' 
The capture of Louisburg, roused the French 
government to seek revenge. A very large fleet 
'''c\l\^' ^w '"^'l! from France, under the command 
oi Duke D'Anville, to America. This fleet consist- 
ed ^of about forty ships of war, beside transports ; 
and brought over between three and four thousand 
regular troops, with veteran officers, and all kinds 
of military stores ; the most powerful armament, 
that had ever been sent to North America. The ob- 
ject of this great armament was supposed to be t© 
recover Louisburg; to take Annapolis; to break up 
the settlements on the eastern coast of Massachu- 
setts ; and to distress, if not attempt to conquer, 
the Avhole, country of New England. The troops 
destmed for Canada, had now sufficient employ- 
mentat home ; and the militia was collected to join 
them. 1 he old forts on the sea coast wer^ repair- 
ed ; new forts were erected; and military guards 
appomted. The country was kept in a state of 
anxiety and tear six weeks; when it was reheved, 
by intelligence of the disabled state of the enemy. 
The French fleet had sustained much damacre bv 
storms, and great loss by shipwrecks. An ex^'pect- 
ed junction of M. Conflans, with three ships of the 
line and a frigate from Hispaniola, had failed. \ 
pestilential fever prevailed among the French troops. 
Intercepted letters, opened in a council of war 
raising expectation of the speedy arrival of an En-' 
glish fleet, caused a division among the officers 
Under the pressure of these adverse occurrences* 
-D'Anville was either seized with an apoplectic fit 
or took a poisonous draught, and suddenly ex- 
pired. p'Estournelle, who succeeded him in the 
command of the fleet, proposed in a council of of- 



6S 

ficers, to abandon the expedition, and return to 
France. The rejection of his proposal caused such 
extreo^e agitation, as to bring on a fever, which 
threw him into a delirium, and he fell on his sword. 
The French, thus disconcerted in their plan, re- 
solved to make an attempt on Annapolis ; but hav- 
ing sailed from Chebucto, they were overtaken by a 
violent tempest, off Cape Sable, and what ships 
escaped destruction, returned singly to France. 

A more remarkable instance of preservation sel- 
dom occurs. Had the project of the enemy suc- 
ceeded, it is impossible to determine to what extent 
ihe American Colonies would have been distressed 
or desolated. When man is made the instrument of 
averting public calamity, the divine agency ought 
^till to be acknowledged ; but this was averted with- 
out human power. If philosophers would ascribe 
this event to blind chance, or fatal necessity, Chris- 
t-ians will assuredly ascribe it to the operation of that 
Being, who, in ancient times, caused '^ the stars, in 
their courses, to fight against Sisera.'* 

Hohnes^ American Annals. 



(42.) Tumult in Boston. 

In the year 1747, a great tumult was raised in the 
town of Boston. Commodore Knowles, while ly- 
ing at Nantasket with a nimiber of men of war, los- 
ing some of his sailors by desertion^ thought it 
reasonable that Boston should supply him with as 
many men as he had lost. He therefore sent his 
boats up to town, early in the mor^iing, and surpri.- 
sed, not only as many seamen as could be found 
on board any of the ships, outward bound, as well 
but swept the wharves, taking some ship 



i 



69 

carpenter's apprentices, and laboring landmen. 
This coiiducf was universally resented as outra- 
geous. A mob was soon collected. As soon as it 
was dusk, several thousand people assembled in 
King's-street, below the town-house, where the 
general court was sitting. Stones and brickbats 
were thrown into the council chamber through the 
windows. A judicious speech of the Governor, 
from the balcony, greatly disapproving. of the im- 
press, promising his utmost endeavors to obtain 
the discharge of the persons impressed, and gently 
reprehending the irregular proceedings of the peo- 
ple, had no effect. Equally ineffectual were the 
attempts of other gentlemen to persuade them to 
disperse. The seizure and restraint of the com- 
manders and other officers, who were in town, were 
insisted on, as.the only effectual method to procure 
the release of the inhabitants on board the ships. 
The militia of Boston was summoned the next day, 
to the aid of the government, but refused to appear. 
The Governor, judging it inexpedient to remain in 
town another night, withdrew to Castle William. 
Letters, in the meantime, were continually passing 
between him and the Commodore. The council 
and house of representatives now passed some vig- 
orous resolutions ; *»aiid the tumultuous spirit began 
to subside. The inhabitants, assembled in town- 
meeting, while they expressed their sense of the great 
insult and injr.ry by the impress, condemned the 
riotous transactions. The militia of the town, the 
next day, promptly made their appearance, and 
conducted the Governor w^ith great pomp, to his 
house. The Commodore dismissed most, if not 
all, of the inhabitants, v/ho had been impressed j 
and the squadroi. ^a'led, to the joy and repose of 
the town. — Holmes^ Annals, 
7 



(43.) Braddock's Defeat. 

The encroachments of the French, and the erec- 
tion, by them, of a chain of forts on the back set- 
tlements of the Colonies, occasioned the British 
ministry to take measures to possess themselves of 
these forts, and drive the French from the country. 

In the spring of 1755, General Braddock arrived 
in Virginia with two regiments, and was soon join- 
ed by Colonel Washington (afterwards Generai 
Washington,) with a body of colonial troops; the 
whole force, two thousand men, took up their 
march for the French fort on the Ohio. General 
Braddock, on the 9th July, with twelve hundred of 
his troops, was within seven miles of Du Quesne, 
a French fortress, which stood where Pittsburg is 
now built. Here Colonel Washington, who under- 
stood the Indian mode of warfare better than his 
General, requested him to reconnoitre with his Vir- 
ginia riflemen. But General Braddock, who held 
the American oflicers in contempt, rejected Wash- 
ington's council, and swelling with rage, replied 
with an oath, '•'High times! High times ! when a 
young buckskin can teach a British General how to 
JightP^ The troops advanced in heavy column^, 
and passing a narrow defile, they fell into an am- 
bush of French and Indians, who opened a deadly 
fire upon the English and American troops, who 
were obliged to fire at random,, as they could not 
see their foe. 

Braddock continued to urge on his men, until he 
was mortally wounded, and about seven hundred 
men were killed, including many of his principal 
officers. Colonel Washington now covered the re- 
treat of the regulars, and saved them frqm entire 
destruction. 



71 

(44.) Massacre at Fort William Henri/, 

!n the year 1757, Mons. Montcalm, with a body of 
1 1,000 Regular French troops and Canadians, with 
2,000 Indians, laid seige to Fort William Henry. 
This fort was defended by a garrison of but 2,300 
men, British and Provincials, under the command 
of Col Monro. The garrison made a brave re- 
sistance, and would have probably preserved the 
fort, had they been properly supported by the Brit- 
ish army under Gen. Webb, which was then en- 
camped at Fort Edward. The General, however, 
sent to Col. Monro, and informed him that he could 
not assist him, and ordered him to give up the fort, 
on the best terms he could ; which was accordingly 
done. 

In consideration of the gallant defence the garri- 
son had made, they were to be permitted to march 
out with all the honors of war, — and Vvith a guard 
to protect them from the fury of the savages. — 
Soon after the capitulation Vv^as signed, the whole 
garrison, besides women and children, were drawn 
up within the lines, and on the point of marching 
off, when great numbers of the Indians gathered 
about and began to plunder, and soon after some 
of them began to attack the sick and wounded, 
when such were not able to crawl into the ranks; 
notwithstanding they endeavored to avert the fury 
of their enemies by their shrieks and groans, they 
were soon murdered. 

The brave Col. Monro hastened away, soon af- 
ter the confusion began, to the French camp, to en- 
deavor to procure the guard agreed by the stipula- 
tion, but his application proved inetfectual. — By this 
time the war-ivhoop was given, and the Indians be- 
gan to murder those who were nearest them without 



72 

distinction. " It is not in the power of words/' says 
the narrator, who was one of this ill fated garrison, 
" to give any tolerable idea of the horrid scene 
that now ensued ; men, women, and children, were 
dispatched in the most wanton and cruel manner, 
and immediately scalped. Many of the savages 
drank the blood of their victims, as it flowed warm 
from the fatal wound/' 

The garrison now perceived, though too late to 
avail them, that they were to expect no relief frcm 
the French, who instead of fulfilling their promise? 
to furnish a guard to protect them, seemed tacitly 
to permit their savage allies to perpetrate these hor- 
rid atrocities. A tew of the most resolute men. see- 
ing no other probable way of preserving their lives, 
made a desperate eflbrt — broke their way through 
the surrounding savages, and escaped. 

It was computed that fit'teen hundred person? 
were killed or made prisoners by these savages du- 
ring this fatal day. Many of the latter were carri- 
ed oti'by them and never returned. A few. through 
favorable accidents, found their way back to their 
native country, after having experienced a long and 
painful captivity. 



(45.) ^ibercrombie's Defeat, 

The French had erected a fort at Ticonderos^a, ai 

ilie point of communication between Lake George, 
Souih Bay, and Lake Champlain. To dispossess 
them of this important place, an army, under Gen. 
Abercrombie. was sent against it. His force con- 
sisted of 16.000 men. of which COOO were British 
regulars, and 10,000 were Colotual troop?. On 
ilic 5th July, 175S, he embarked his troops en 



73 

Lake George, on board 1 25 \Yhale boats, and 900 
batteaux. The imposing s})Icndor of the niihtary 
parade on this occasion, is thus described by Dr. 
Dwight : — " The morning \vas remarkably bright 
and beautiful ; and the tleet moved with exact re- 
gularity to the sound of fine martial music. The 
ensigns waved and glittered in the sun beams, and 
the anticipation of future triumph shone in every 
eye. Above, beneath, around, the scenery was 
that of enchantment. Rarely has the sun, since 
that luminary was lighted up in the heavens, dawn- 
ed on such a complication of beauty and magnifi- 
cence."" 

At'ter disembarking from the batteaux, the army 
formed in four columns, and began their march 
ihrough the woods to Ticonderoga. When ap- 
proaching the fort, a skirmish took place with the 
enemy, in which Lord Howe, the idol of the army, 
was killed ; on seeing him fall, the troops moved 
forward determined to avenge his death. About 
300 of the enemy were killed on the spot, and 148 
taken. Abercrombie having received information 
that the garrison consisted of about 6,000 men and 
that a reinforcement of 3,000 more were daily ex- 
pected, determined to attack their lines. Without 
gaining a proper knowledge of the works of the 
enemy, or of the proper points of attack, Aber- 
crombie ordered an immediate assault. ''The ar- 
my advanced to the charge with the greatest intre- 
pidity, and lor more than two hours, with incredi- 
ble obstinacy, maintained the attack. But the 
works, where the principal attack was made, were 
eight or nine leet high, and impregnable, even by 
field pieces; and for nearly 100 yards from the 
breast work, trees were lelkd so thick, and wrought 
together with their limbs pointing outward, that it 
7* 



74^ 

rendered ihe approacli of the troops, in a great 
measure impossible. In this di^eadful situation, un- 
der the fire of about three thousand of the enemy, 
these gallant troops were kept, without the least 
prospect of success, until nearly two thousand 
were killed or wounded." After a contest of four 
hours, Abercrombie ordered a retreat; and the 
next day resumed his former camp, on tlie south 
side of Lake George. 



(46.) Capture of Quebec. 

The capture of Quebec, in 1759, was the most 
brilliant and important event which took place du- 
ring the French war — it gave the death blow to the 
F'rench power in America. The command of the 
important expedition against Quebec, was intrust- 
ed to Gen. James Wolfe, a young officer, who had 
distinguished himself at the capture of Louisburg.. 

The army, amounting to 8,000 men, landed in 
June, on the island of Orleans, below Quebec 
The city of Quebec stands on a rock, at the conflu- 
ence of Charles and Iroquois rivers ; it is naturally 
a place of great strength, and was well fortified and 
defended by a force of 10,000 men, under the com- 
mand of General Montcalm. Gen, Wolfe had to 
contend with immense difliculties, and after having 
fiiiled in several attempts to reduce the city, he con- 
ceived the bold project of ascending, with his. 
troops, a steep, craggy clift' of from 150 to 200 
feet, by which he would reach the plains of Abra- 
ham, south and west of the city. This almost in- 
credible enterprize was effected in the night, and by 
day light, fSept.. 13,) the army was formed, ana 
ready to meet the enemy. The battle which took 



place, is thus doscribed by Mr. Goodrich, in his^ 
Hist, of the U. States. 

*' To Montcalm, the intelligence that the English 
were occupying the heights of Abraham, was most 
surprising. The impossibility of ascending the pre- 
cipice, he considered certain, and therefore had ta- 
ken no measures to fortify its line. But no sooner 
was he informed of the position of the English ar- 
my, than he perceived a battle no longer to be 
avoided, and prepared to fight. Between nine and 
ten o'clock, the two armies, about equal in numbers, 
met face to face. 

" The battle now commenced. Inattentive to 
the fire of a body of Canadians and Indians, 1500 
of whom Montcalm had stationed in the cornfields 
and bushes, Wolfe directed his troops to reserve 
their fire for the main body of the French, now 
rapidly advancing. On their approach within 40 
yards, the English opened their fire and the de-- 
struction became immense. 

" The French fought bravely, but their ranks- 
became disordered, and, notwithstanding the re- 
peated eftbrts of tlieir officers to form them, and to 
renew the attack, they were so successfully pushed 
by the British bayonet, and hewn down by the high- 
land broadsword, that their discomfiture was com- 
plete. 

"During the action, Montcalm was on the 
French left, and Wolfe on the EngHsh right, and 
here they both fell, in the critical moment thatdeci- 
ced the victory. Early in the battle, Wolfe receiv- 
ed a ball in the wrist, but binding his handkerchief 
around it, he continued to encourage his men. 
Shortly after, another ball penetrated his groin ; 
but this wound, although much more severe, he 
concealed, and continued to urge on the contest, 



76 

till a third bullet pierced his breast. He was now 
obliged, though reluctant, to be carried to the rear 
of the hne. 

" Gen. Monckton succeeded to the command, bu-t 
was immediately woimded and conveyed away. In 
this critical state of the action, the command de- 
volved on Gen. Townsend. Gen. Montcalm, fight- 
ing' in front of his battalion, received a mortal 
wound about the same time, and General Jenne- 
zergufr, his second in command, fell near his side. 

'' Wolfe died in the field, before the battle was 
ended ; but he lived long enough to know that the 
victory was his. While leaning on the shoulder of 
a Lieutenant, who kneeled to support him, he was 
seized with the agonies of death ; at this moment 
was heard the distant sound, " They fly — they fly." 
The hero raised his drooping head, and eagerly 
asked, " who fly." Being told that it was the 
French — '' Then," he replied, " I die happy," and 
expired. 

" This death," says Professor Silliman, " has 
furnished a grand and pathetic subject for the pain^ 
ter, the poet, and the historian, and undoubtedly, 
(considered as a specimen of mere military glory,) 
it is one of the most sublime that the annals of war 
afford." 

" Montcalm was every way worthy of being the 
competitor of Wolfe. In talents — in military skill — 
in personal courage, he was not his inferior. Nor 
was his death much less sublime. He lived to be 
carried to the city, where his last moments were 
employed in writing, w'ith his own hand, a letter to 
the English General, recommending the French 
prisoners to his care and humanity. When inform- 
ed that his wound was mortal, he replied, " 1 shall 
not then live to see the surrender of Quebec," 



77 

(47.) Expeditions against the Spanish Settlemeiitsy 
in the West Indies, 

In 1740, war having been declared by Great 
Britain against Spain, expeditions were undertaken 
against the Spanish West Indies, Porto Bello, Car- 
thagena, and Cuba. Requisitions were made on 
the Colonies, to assist in these enterprises. Four 
reginnents were raised from the American Colonies, 
for these expeditions ; and the several CMIonies 
were at the charge of levy money, of prdWsions, 
and of transports for their several quotas. An ar- 
mament from Great Britain, under the command of 
Lord Cathcart, sailed for the West Indies, and for- 
med a junction with Vice Admiral Vernon's fleet, at 
Jamaica. Lord Cathcart having died in the West 
Indies bcfare the complete junction of the fleetSj. 
Admiral Vernon found Eim.self at the head of the 
most formidable fleet and army ever sent into those 
seas. The whole fleet consisted of 29 ships of the 
line, with nearly the same number of frigates, be- 
sides fire ships and bomb ketches. The number of 
seamen amounted to 15,000; the land forces, in- 
cluding the four regiments from the Colonies, were 
not less than 12,000. Vernon having taken and' 
plundered Porto Bello, now proceeded with his 
fleet, and land forces, under General Wentworth, 
to attack Carthagena. After demolishing the 
strong forts and castles in the harbor, an attack 
was made by Wentworth upon the town, but he was 
obliged' to retire, with the loss of 4 or 500 men. 
In July the combined forces made an attempt on 
the Island of Cuba. They possessed themselves' 
of a fine harbor, but by reason of an extraordina- 
>;y sickness and mortality, they were not able to. el^ 
feet any thing of consequence. 



7^ 

"•According to the accounts given of the sick- 
ness, it was nearly as nwrtal as the plague. More 
than a thousand men died in a day, for several days. 
Of nearly 1 000 men from New England, not 100 
returned; of 500 men from Massachusetts, 50 only 
returned.'"* 

In 1762, Admiral Pocock with a fleet of thirty- 
seven ships of war, and about one hundred and fifty 
transmrts, with a land force of about 15,000 men, 
iinde 3^ e command of Lord Albemarle, arrived be- 
fore Havana, on the 5th June. On the 17th, the 
troops landed, and after a siege of more than two 
months, in which the beseiging army showed the most 
invincible courage, patience and perseverance, this 
important place capitulated to his 13ritannic Majesty. 

In this siege, before the middle of July, the aj-my 
in this unwholesome and burning region, was redu- 
ced to half its original numbei*. Many of the sol- 
diers dropped down dead, under the pressure of 
heat, thirst, and fatigue. — A considerable number 
of Colonial troops enlisted under their own ofiiccrs, 
and served in this arduous cnterprize. 

Of the troops from New England, scarcely any 
of the private soldiers, and but few of the olficcrs 
ever returned. Such as were not killed in the ser- 
vice, were generally swept away by tiie great mor- 
tality which prevailed in the army and navy. 



(18.) Whitfield^ the celebrated Preacher, 

The Rev. George Whitfield, a clergyman of the 
Church of England, first arrived in this country, in 
the year 1738. Fie landed in Savannah, Geo. and 
iaidtliC foundation of an orphan house, a few miles 

'^Dr. Trumbull. 



?y 



from Savannah, and afterwards finished it at a great 
expense. He returned to England the same year. 
On the following year he returned back to America, 
and landed at Philadelphia and began to preach in 
different churches. Jn this and in his subsequent 
visits to America, he visited most of the principal 
places in the Colonies. Immense numbers of peo- 
ple flocked to hear him wherever he preached. 

" The effects produced in Philadelphia and other 
places, were truly astonishing* Number^J?f al- 
most all religious denominations, and many who 
had no connection with any denomination, were 
brought to in^ijuire with the utmost eagerness, what 
they should do to be saved. Such was the eager- 
ness of the multitude in Philadelphia, to listen to 
spiritual instruction, that there was public worship 
regularly twice a day for a year; and on the Lord's 
day it was celebrated thrice or four times.. 

During his visit to Philadelphia, he preached fre- 
quently after night, from the gallery of the court- 
house, in Market-street. So loud was his voice at 
that time, that it was distinctly heard on the Jersey 
shore, and so distinct was his speech, that every 
word he said was -understood on board a shallop, 
at Market-street wharf, a distance of upwards of 
400 feet from the court-house. All the intermedi- 
ate space was crowded with his hearers." He was 
truly remarkable for his uncommon eloquence, and 
fervent zeal. His eloquence was indeed very great 
and of the truest kind. He was utterly devoid of 
all affectation. The importance of his subject, and 
the regard due to his hearers, engrossed all his con- 
cern. Every accent of his voice spoke to the ear, 
every feature of his face, every motion of his hands, 
and every gesture, spoke to the eye ; so that the 
most dissipated and thoughtless found their attention 



'^0 

&Frestec3, and the dullest and most ignorant could 
r.ot but understand. He appeared to be devoid of 
the spirit of sectarianism ; his only object seemed 
to be to '' preach Christ and him crucified."* 

Mr. Whitfield died in Newburyport, Mass. on the 
80th of September, 1770, in the fifty-sixth year of 
his age, on his seventh visit to America— having 
been in the ministry thirty-four years. 



(49.) Col. Booties Jirsi settlement of Kentucky, 

The country now called Kentucky, was well 
known to the Indian traders, many years before its 
setdement. It however remained unexplored by 
the Virginians till the year 1769, when Col. Daniel 
Boon, and a few others, who conceived it to be an 
interesting object, undertook a, journey for that pur- 
pose. After a long fatiguing march over a moun- 
tainous wilderness, in a westerly direction, they at 
length arrived upon its borders, and from the toj) of 
an eminence, with joy and wonder descried the 
beautiful landscape of Kentucky. "Here,^' says 
Col. Boon " Nature was a series of wonders and a 

*Tbe following anecdote respecting hisipanner of preach- 
ing, will serve to illustrate this part of his character. One 
day, while preaching from the balcony of the court-house, ia 
Philadelphia, he cried out, " Father Abraham, who have you 
got in heaven ; any £lj9WCopaZtans ?" "No!" " Any Pre*- 
bylerians?'' '^'^or "- Any Baptists P' "No!" "Have 
you any MethoMsts there ?" " No !" " Have you aqy /n- 
depencients or Seceders?" "No ! No !" " Why, who 'hav« 
you then ?" " We dont know those names here ; all (hat 
are here are Christians — believers in Christ- — men who have 
overcome by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of his 
testimony I" " O, is this the case ? then God help me. God 
help us all to forget party names, and rto become Christians 
in deed and in truth." 



ireiiMis^viL'yiiLain.i 












Mi) 












^^p 


^P 




;1HI 




'■^ 


»^ 












iP^ 












''/' 1'^ 


i 


^^g^^gssy-^^^ 


J. 




^j 


^ 



52 



JM'.s/r/u//<>f/ (I)' T>'t/ IN Bosi.it H,irht>nr 



81 

fund of delight. Here she displayed her ingenuity 
and industry in a variety of flowers and fruits, beau- 
tifully colored, elegantly shaped, and charmingly 
flavored 5 and we were favored with numberless an- 
imals, presenting themselves continually to our 
view. The buffaloes were more numerous than cat- 
tle on other settlements, browsing on the leaves of 
the cane, or crossing the herbage on these exten- 
sive plains. We saw hundreds in a drove, and the 
numbers about the salt springs were amazing." 

Four years after, in 1773, Col. Boon and his 
family, with five other families, joined by forty 
men from Powell's valley, began the settlement of 
Kentucky. 



(50.) Stamp AcL 

The British Parliament, in the year 1765, forth^ 
purpose of raising a revenue from the Colonies, 
passed the famous stamp act^ which ordained that 
all instrum.ents of writing, as contracts, deeds, notes, 
«fec. should not be valid, unless .executed on stamped 
paper, on which a duty should bq paid. This alar- 
med the Colonies and awakened their indignation. 
They determined to resist the execution of the law. 
The 1st Nov. 1765, was the day on which this act 
was to take effect. '' In Boston, the bells tolled, 
the shops were shut, effigies of the royalists were 
carried about in derision and torn in pieces. At 
Portsmouth, the bells tolled, a coffin was made, 
on the lid was inscribed ''' Liberty, aged 145," and 
with unbraced drums and minute guns, a procession 
followed it to the grave. At the close of an ora- 
tion, the coffin was taken up, signs of life appear- 
ed in the corpse, " Liberty revived** was substitu- 
8 



icd, the bells struck a cheerful key, and joy sparks 
led in every countenance." 

In New York the stamp act was contemptuously 
cried about the streets, under the title of " The fol- 
ly of England and Ruin of America,'^'' The stamp 
papers having arrived, Gov. Colden, took them 
into the fort in order to secure them. Many of the 
citizens of New York, oflended at the conduct, and 
disliking the political sentiments of the Governor, as- 
sembled in the evening, broke open his stable, and 
took out his coach ; and after carrying it about the 
city, marched to the common, when a gallows was 
erected, on one end of which they suspended his 
effigy, with a stamped bill of lading in one hand^ 
and a figure of the devil in the other. After this, 
the populace took the effigy and the gallows entire, 
and carried it in procession, the coach preceding, 
to the gate of the fort, whence it was removed to 
the Bowling green, where the whole pageantry, with 
the coach, was comsumed in a bonnre, amidst the 
acclamations of thousands of spectators. 

Similar proceedings occurred in many parts of 
the country, and tl^e obnoxious act was shortly aftex 
repealed. 



(51.) Massacre in Boston, 

The inhabitants of Boston had suffered almost 
every species of insult from the British soldiery ; 
who, countenanced by the royal party, had gene- 
rally found means to screen themselves from the 
hands of the civil officers. Thus all authority rested 
on the point of the sword, and the partizans of the 
crown triumphed for a time in the plenitude of mil- 
itary power. Yet the measure and the manner of 



83 

posting troops in the capital of the province, had 
roused such jealousy and disgust, as could not be 
subdued by the scourge that hung over their heads. 
Continual bickerings took place in the streets be- 
tween the soldiers and the citizens ; the insolence of 
the first, which had been carried'so farfas to excite the 
African slaves to murder their masters, with the pro- 
mise 'of impunity, and the indiscretion of the 
last, was often productive of tumults and disorder 
that led the most cool and temperate to be appre- 
hensive of consequences of the most serious na- 
ture. 

On the second of March, 1770, a fray took 
place in Boston, near Mr. Gray's rope walk, be- 
tween a private soldier of the 29th regiment, and 
an inhabitant. The former was supported by his 
comrades, the latter by the rope-makers, till seve- 
ral, on both sides, w^ere involved in the consequen- 
ces. On the fifth a more dreadful scene was pre- 
sented. The soldiers, when under arms, were 
pressed upon, insulted and pelted, by a mob armed 
with clubs, sticks, and snow balls covering stones. 
They were also dared to fire. In this situation, one 
of the soldiers, who had received a blow, in re- 
sentment fired at the supposed aggressor. This 
was followed by a single discharge from six others. 
Three of the inhabitants w^ere killed and five dan- 
gerously wounded. The town was immediately in 
commotion. Such was the temper, force and num- 
ber of the inhabitants, that nothing but an engage- 
ment to remove the troops out of the town, togeth- 
er with the advice of moderate men, prevented the 
townsmen from falling on the soldiers. The killed 
were buried in one vault, and in a most respectful 
manner, in order to express the indignation of the 
inhabitants at the slaughter of their brethren, by 



84 

soldiers quartered among them^ in violation of their 
civil liberties. Captain Preston, who commanded 
the party which fired on the inhabitants, was com- 
mitted to jail, and afterwards tried. The Captain 
and six of the men, were acquitted. Two were 
"brought in guilty of man-slaughter. It appeared on 
the trial, that the soldiers were abused, insulted, 
threatened, and pelted, before they fired, h was 
also proved, that only seven guns were fired by the 
eight prisoners. These circumstances Induced the 
jury to make a favorable verdict. The result of the 
trial reflected great honor on John Adams, (the late 
President of the United States,) and Josiah Quincy, 
Esqrs. the counsel for the prisoners ; and also on 
the integrity of the jury, who ventured to give an 
upright verdict, in defiance of popular opinions. 

"The people, not dismayed by the blood of their 
neighbors thus wantonly shed, determined no long- 
er to submit to the insolence of military power. Col. 
Dalrymple, who commanded in Boston, was in- 
formed, the day after the riot in King-Street, " that 
he must withdraw his troops from the town within a 
a limited term, or hazard the consequences. 

The inhabitants of the town assembled at Faneuil 
Hall, where the subject was discussed with be- 
coming spirit, and the people unanimously resolved, 
that no armed force should be sutfered longer to re- 
side in the capital ; and if the Kmg's troops were 
not immediately withdrawn by their own officers, 
the Governor should be requested to give orders for 
their removal, and thereby prevent the necessity of 
more rigorous steps. A commiltee from this body 
was deputed to wait on the Governor, and request 
him to exert that authority which ihe exigencies of 
the times required from the supreme magistrate. 
Mr. Samuel Adams, the chairman ef the committer. 



with a pathus and address peculiar to himself, expo- 
sed the illegality of quartering troops in the town in 
the midst of peace ; he urged the apprehensions of 
the people, and the fatal consequences that might en- 
sue if their removal was delayed. 

But no arguments could prevail on Mr. Hutchin- 
son ; who from timidity, or some more censurable 
cause, evaded acting at all in the business, and 
grounded his refusal on a pretended want of autho- 
rity. After which Col. Dalrymple, wishing to com- 
promise the matter, consented that the twenty-ninth 
regiment, more culpable than any other in the late 
tumult, should be sent to Castle Island. This con- 
cession was by no means satisfactory ; the people, 
inflexible in their demands, insisted that no British 
soldier should be left within the town ; their requisi- 
tion was reluctantly complied with, and within four 
days the whole army decamped."* 

Morsels ^evohdion. 



(62.) Destruction of Tea in Boston. 

The British ministry still persisting in their right 
to tax the Colonies, had for this purpose given per- 

*The circumstances and probable consequences of the tra- 
gical affair just related, sunk deep into the minds of the peo- 
ple, and were turned to the advantage of their cause. Its 
anniversary, for many years was observed with great solem- 
nity, and the most eloquent orators were successively employ- 
ed to deliver an annnal oration to preserve the remembrance 
of it fresh in their minds. On these occasions, the blessings 
of liberty — the horrors of slavery — the dangers of a standing 
army — the rights of the Colonies, and a variety of such to- 
pics, were represented to the public view, under their moit 
pleasing and alarming forms. These annual orations ad- 
ministered fuel to the fire of Liberty, and kept it burniDg 
TTith an incessant flame.— i&. 
8* 



mission ta the East India Company to ship a large 
quantity of Teas to America, charged with duty. 
The Americans fixed in their opposition to the prin- 
ciple of taxation in any shape, opposed the landing 
of the tea. In New York, and in Philadelphia, the 
cargoes sent out were returned without being en- 
tered at the Custom Houses. In Boston, the tea 
being consigned to the royal Governor, (Hutchin- 
son,) the populace, " clad like the aborigines of the 
wilderness, with tomahawks in their hands and 
clubs on their shoulders, without the least 
molestation, marched through the streets with 
silent solemnity, amidst innumerable spectators, and 
proceeded to the wharves, boarded the ships, de- 
manded the keys^ and without much deliberation 
knocked open the chests, and emptied several 
thousand weight of the finest teas into the ocean. 
No opposition was made, though surrounded by the 
king's ships ; all was silence and dismay. — This 
done, the procession returned through the town in 
the same order and solemnity, as observed in the 
outset of their attempt. No other disorder took 
place, and it was observed, the stillest night ensu- 
ed that Boston had enjoyed for several months." 
Intelligence of this transaction reached the British 
ministry, and in 1774, they passed an act to restrain 
all intercourse by water, with the town of Boston, 
by closing the port. They also removed the gov- 
ernment and public offices to Salem, 



(53.) First Continental Congress, 

The first General Congress met at Philadelphia 
in the beginning of September, 1774. It consisted 



87 

©f fifty one delegates from twelve Colonies. They 
chose Peyton Randolph, President, and Charles 
Thonopson, Secretary. The Delegates were ap- 
pointed by the colonial legislatures, or where none 
existed, the appointments were made by select 
meetings and associations of citizens. " The nov- 
elty and importance of the meeting of this Con- 
gress excited universal attention, and their trans- 
actions were such as could not but tend to render 
them respectable. 

The first act of Congress was an approbation of 
the conduct of Massachusetts Bay, and an exhorta- 
tion to continue in the same spirit which they had 
begun. Supplies for the suffering inhabitants 
(whom the operation of the port-bill had reduced 
to, great distress) were strongly recommended ; and 
it was declared that in case of attempts to enforce 
the obnoxious acts by arms, all America should join 
to assist the town of Boston,; and, should the in- 
habitants be obliged, during the course of hostili- 
ties, to remove farther up the country, the losses 
they might sustain should be repaired at the publiq 
expense. 

Congress next addressed a letter to General- 
Gage; in. which having stated the grievances of 
the people of Massachusetts, they informed him of 
the fixed and unalterable determination of all the 
other provinces, to support their brethren, and to 
oppose the British acts of parliament ; that they 
themselves were appointed to watch over the lib- 
erties of America ; and entreated him to desist from 
Bailitary operations, lest suck hostilities might be 
brought on as would frustrate all hopes of recon- 
ciliation with the parent state. 

Their next step was to publish a declaration of 
rights. These they summed up in the rights belong- 



88 

ing to Englishmen ; and particularly insisted, that 
as^ their distance rendered it impossible for them to 
be represented in the British parliament, their pro- 
vincial assemblies, with a Goverrror appointed by 
the King, constituted the only legislative power 
within each province. They would, however, con- 
sent to such acis of parliament as were evidently 
calculated merely for the regulation of commerce, 
and for securinoj to the parent state the benefits of 
the American trade ; but would never allow that 
they could impose any tax on the Colonies, for the 
purpose of revenue, without their consent. 

They proceeded to reprobate the intention of 
each of the new acts of parliament, and insisted on 
all the rights they had enumerated as being unalien- 
able, and what no power could deprive them of. 
The Canada act they pointed out as being extreme- 
ly inimical to the Colonies, by whose assistance it 
had been conquered ; and they termed it, ''An act 
for establishing the Roman Catholic religion in Can- 
ada, abolishing the equitable system of English laws, 
and establishing a tyranny there." 

They further declared in favor of a non-importa- 
tion and non-consumption of British goods, until 
the acts were repealed by -which duties were impo- 
sed upon tea, coffee, wine, sugar and molasses, im- 
ported into America, as well as the Boston port act 
and the three others passed at the preceding ses- 
sion of parliament. 

The new regulations agairrst the importation and 
consumption of British commodities were then 
drawn up with great solemnity ; and they conclu- 
ded with returning the warmest thanks to those 
members of parliament who had with so much zeal, 
though without any success^ opposed the obnoxious 
acts of parliament. 



The next proceedings of Congress were to fraa>€ 
a petition to the King, an address to the British na- 
tion, and another to the Colonies ; all of which 
were in the usual strain of American language at 
that time, and drawn up in such a masterly manner 
as ought to have impressed the people of England 
with a more favorable opinion of the Americans, 
than they could at that time be induced to en* 
tertain."* 

After a session of eight weeks, Congress dissolved 
themselves, after recommending another Congress 
to be convened on the 10th of May ensuing, unless- 
thcir grievances should be previously obtained. 
Although the power of this Congress was merely 
advisory, their resolutions received the general sanc- 
tion of the provincial Congresses, and of the Colo- 
nial assemblies ; "and their recommendations were 
more generally and more effectually carried into^ 
execution, than the laws of the best regulated state." 



(54.) Battle of Lexington^ 

t)etermined to reduce the rebellious Colonies to 
.submission, the British ministry transported a force 
of 10,000 men, who were stationed at Boston. 

On the night of the 18th of April, 1775, Gen. 
Gage, the King's Governor of Massachusetts, de- 
tached a body of 800 men, with orders to marCh to 
Concord, and destroy tho military stores collected 
by the Americans at that place. Their movements 
were discovered, and the country was alarmed. Ear- 
ly in the morning, about 170 of the Lexington militia 
had assembled on the green. Major Pitcairn, who 
commanded the detachment of British troops, rod(> 

^Williams' History of the RevoliStioD» 



90 

tip to the militia, and addressing them as rebels or- 
dered them disperse. Not being obeyed, Pitcairn 
discharged his pistol, and ordered his men to fire. 
Eight of the Americans were killed and several 
wounded. The British proceeded to Concord, 
destroyed the stores and returned to Boston, 
closely followed by the exasperated Americans, 
who from behind fences and walls, fired upon their 
rear. Had not the British had a reinforcement at 
Lexington, it is doubtful whether any of them had 
reached Boston. 

Thus began the contest which dismembered the 
British empire, and ended in the establishment of 
independence in our own country. 



(55.) Taking of Ticonderoga, hy Col, Allen, 

The seizure of the important fortress of Ticon- 
deroga by Col. Ethan Allen, on the 10th of May, 
1775, is thus related by himself. — "The first sys- 
tematical and bloody attempt at Lexington, to en- 
slave America, thoroughly electrified my mind, and 
fully determined me to take a part with my country. 
And while I was wishing for an opportunity to sig- 
nalize myself in its behalf, directions were private- 
ly sent to me from the then Colony, now State of 
Connecticut, to raise the Green Mountain Boys, and 
if possible, with them to surprise and take the for- 
tress of Ticonderoga. This enterprise 1 cheerfully 
undertook; and after first guarding all the several 
passes that led thither, to cut off all intelligence 
between the garrison and the country, made a for- 
ced march from Bennington, and arrived at the lake 
opposite Ticonderoga, on the evening of the ninth 



.91 

day of May, 1775, with two hundred and thirty 
valiant Green Mountain Boys ; and it was with the 
.utmost difficulty that I procured boats to cross the 
-.lake. However, I landed eighty three men near the 
garrison, and sent the boats back for the rear guard 
commanded by Col. Seth Warner ; but the day be- 
gan to dawn, and I found myself necessitated to at- 
tack the fort before the rcar could cross the lake ; 
and as it was hazardous, I harangued the officers 
and soldiers in the manner following ; '' Friends 
and fellow soldiers,- — You have for a number of 
years past been a scourge and terror to arbitrary 
.powers. Your valor has iaeen famed abroad, and 
acknowledged, as appears by the advice and orders 
to me from the general assembly of Connecticut, to 
surprise and take the garrison now before us. I 
now propose to advance before you, and in person 
conduct you through the wicket gate; for we 
must this morning either quit our pretensions .to 
valor, or possess ourselves of this fortress in a few 
minutes ; and inasmuch as it is a desperate attempt, 
which none but the bravest of men dare undertake, 
1 do not urge it on any contrary to his will. You 
that will undertake voluntarily, poise your firelock." 
The men being at this. time drawn up in three ranks, 
each poised his firelock. 1 ordered them to face to 
the right ; and at the head of the centre file, march- 
ed them immediately to the wicket gate afotesaid, 
where I found a sentry posted, who instantly* nap- 
ped his fusee at me. I ran immediately towards 
him, and he retreated through the covered way'into 
the parade within the garrison, gave a halloo, and 
ran under bomb proof. My party, who follow;- 
ed me into the fort, I formed on the parade in such 
a manner as to face the barracks which faced each 
other. The garrison being asleep, except the sen- 



92 



tries, we gave three huzzas, which greatly surprised 
them. One of the sentries made a pass at one of 
my officers with a charged bayonet, and slightly 
wounded him. My first thought was to kill him 
with my sword, but in an instant I altered the design 
and fury of the blow, to a slight cut on the side of 
the head ; upon which he dropped his gun, and 
asked quarters, which I readily granted him ; and 
demanded the place where the commanding officer 
kept. He shewed me a pair of stairs m the front, 
which led up to a second story in said barracks, 
to which I immediately repaired, and ordered the 
commander, Capt. Delaplace, to come forth instant- 
ly, or I would sacrifice the whole garrison : at 
which time the captain came immediately to the 
door with his breeches in his hand, when 1 ordered 
him to deliver to me the fort instantly ; he asked me 
by what authority I demanded it. 1 answered him, 
"/n the name of the great Jehovah, and the Con- 
tincntal Congress.^' The authority of Congress be- 
ing very little known at that time, he began to 
speak again, but I interrupted him, and with my 
drawn sword near my head again demanded an im- 
mediate surrender of the garrison ; with which he 
then complied, and ordered his men to be torthwith 
paraded without arms, as he had given up the garri- 
son. In the mean time some of my officers had giv- 
en orders, and in consequence thereof, sundry of 
the barrack doors were beat down, and about one 
third of the garrison imprisoned, which consisted of 
said commander, a lieutenant Feltham, a conductor 
of artillery, a gunner, two sergeants, and forty four 
rank and file; about one hundred peices of cannon, 
one thirteen inch mortar, and a number of swivels. 
This surprise was carried into execution in the grey 
of the morning of the teyth of May, 1775. The 



93 

sun seemed io rise that morning with a superior lus- 
tre : and Ticonderoga and its dependencies smiled on 
its conquerors, who tossed about the flowing bowl, and 
wished success to Congress, and the hberty and 
freedom of America. Happy it was for me at that 
time, that the future pages of the book of fate, 
which afterwards unfolded a miserable scene of two 
years and eight months imprisonment, were hid from 
my view." 



(56.) Battle of Bunker Hill 

The following, "/m// and correct account^^ of the 
Batde of Bunker Hill, is taken from a pamphlet 
published in Boston, June 17, 1825. 

After the affair at Lexington and Concord, on the 
19th of April, 1775, the people, animated by one 
common impulse, flew to arms in every direction. 
The husbandman changed his plowshare for a mus- 
ket, and about 15,000 men, 10,000 from Massachu- 
setts, and the remainder from New Hampshire, 
Rhode Island, and Connecticut, assembled under 
Gen. Ward, in the environs of Boston, then occu- 
pied by 10,000 highly disciplined, and well equip- 
ped British troops, under the command of Gen- 
erals Gage, Howe, Clinton, Burgoyne, Pigot, and 
others. 

Fearing an intention on the part of the British to 
occupy the important heights at Charlestown and 
Dorchester, which would enable them to command 
the surrounding country, Col. Prescott was detach- 
ed by his own desire, from the American camp at 
Cambridge, on the evening of the 16th of June, 
1775, with about 1000 militia, mostly of Massachu- 
setts, including 120 men of Putnam's regiment from 

9 



94 

Connecticut, and one Artillery company, to Bunk- 
er Hill, with a view to occupy and fortify that post. 
At this Hill the detachment made a short halt, byt 
concluded to advance still nearer the British, and 
accordingly took possession of Breed's Hill, a po- 
sition which commanded the whole inner harbor of 
Boston. Here, about midnight, they commenced 
throwing up a redoubt, which they completed, not- 
withstanding every possible effort from the British 
ships and batteries to prevent them, about noon the 
next day. 

So silent had the operations been conducted 
through the night, that the British had not the 
most distan^t notice of the design of the Americans, 
until day-break presented to their view, the half for- 
formed battery and daring stand made against them. 
A dreadful cannonade, accompanied with shells, 
was immediately commenced from the British batte- 
ry at Copps' Hill, and the ships of war and floating 
batteries stationed in Charles River. 

The break of day on the 1 7th of June, 1 775, pre- 
sented a scene, which for daring and firmness could 
never be surpassed — 1000 unexperienced militia, in 
the attire of their various avocations, without disci- 
pline, almost without artillery and bayonets, scanti- 
ly supplied with ammunition, and wholly destitute 
of provisions, defying the power of the formidable 
British fleet and army, determined to maintain the 
liberty of their soil, or moisten that soil with their 
blood. 

Without aid, however, from the main body of the 
army, it seemed impossible to maintain their posi- 
tion — the men having been without sleep, toiling 
through the night, and destitute of the necessary 
food required by nature, had become nearly ex- 
hauStcil. Representations were repeatedly made. 



S5 

through the morning, to Head Quarters,, of the ne- 
cessity of reinforcements and supplies. Major 
Brooks, the late revered Governor of Massachu- 
setts, who commanded a bultalion of minute-men 
at Concord, s€t out for Cambridge about 9 o'clock, 
on foot, it being impossible to procure a horse, so- 
liciting succor; but as there were two other points 
exposed to the British, Roxbury and Cambridge, 
then the Head Quarters, at which place all the Tit- 
tle stores of the army were collected, and the loss 
of which would be incalculable at that moment, 
great fears were entertained lest they should march 
over the neck to Roxbury, and attack the camp 
there, or pass over the bay in boats, there being at 
that time no artificial avenue to connect Boston 
with the adjacent country, attack the Head Quarters 
and destroy the stores ; it was therefore deemed im- 
possible to aftbrd any reinforcement to Charlestown 
Heights, till the movements of the Briti&h rendered 
evidence of their intention certain. 

The fire from the Glasgow frigate and two float- 
ing batteries in Charles River, were wholly direct- 
ed — with a view to prevent any communication — 
across the isthmus that connects Charlestown with 
the main land, which kept up a continued shower of 
sxnssiles, and rendered the communication truly dan- 
gerous to those who should attempt it. When the 
intention of the British to attack the heights of 
Charlestown became apparent, the remainder of 
Putnam's regiment. Col. Gardner's regijnent^ 
bo^.h of which, as to numbers, were very imperfect, 
and some New Hampshire Militia, marched, not- 
withstanding the heavy fire across the neck, for 
Charlestown Heights, where they arrived much fa- 
tigued, just after the British had moved to the first 
.attack. 



96 

The British commenced crossing troops from 
Boston about 12 o'clock, and landed at Morcton's 
Point, S. E. from Breed's Hill. At 2 o'clock, from 
the best accounts that can be obtained, they had 
landed between 3 and 4,000, men under the immedi- 
ate command of Gen* Howe, and formed, in appa- 
rently invincible order, at the base of the hill. 

The position of the Americans at this time was q 
redoubt on the summit of the height of about eight 
rods square, and a breastwork; extending on the 
left of it, about seventy feet down the eastern de- 
clivity of the hill. This redoubt and breastwork 
was commanded by Prescott in person, who had 
superintended its construction, and who occupied \i 
with the Massachusetts Militia, of his detachment, 
and a part of Little's regiment, which had arrived 
about one o'clock. They were dreadfully defi- 
cient in equipments and ammunition, had been toil- 
ir\rr incessantly for many hours, and it is said by 
some accounts, even then were destitute of provis- 
ions. — A little to the eastward of the redoubt, and 
northerly to the rear of it, was a rail fence, extend- 
ing almost to Mystick river, — to this fence another 
had been added during the night and forenoon, and 
some newly mowMi grass thrown against them, to af- 
ford something like a cover to the troops. — At this 
fence the 120 Connecticut Militia were posted. 

The movements of the British made it evident 
their intention was to march a strong column along 
the ftiargin of the Mystick, and turn the redoubt on 
the north, while another column attacked it in front; 
accordingly, to prevent this design, a large force be- 
came necessary at the breastwork and rail fence. 
The whole of the reinforcements that arrived, 
amounting in all to about 800 or 1000 men, were 
ordered bv Gen. Putnam, who had been extremelv 



97 

active throughout the night and morning, and who 
had accompanied the expedition to this point. 

At this moment thousands of persons of both sex- 
es had collected on the Church steeples, Beacon 
Hill, house tops, and every place in Boston and its 
neighborhood, where a view of the battle ground 
could be obtained, viewing with painful anxiety, the 
movements of the combatants — wondering, yet ad- 
miring the bold stand of the Americans, and trem- 
bling at the thoughts of the formidable army mar- 
shalled in array against them. 

Before 3 o'clock the British formed, in two col- 
umns, for the attack — one column, as had been an- 
ticipated, moved along the Mystick River, with the 
intention of taking the redoubt in the rear, while 
the other advanced up the ascent directly in front 
of the redoubt, where Prescott was ready to re- 
ceive them. Gen, Warren, President of the Pro- 
vincial Congress and of the Committee of Safety, 
who had been a})pointed but a few days before a 
Major General of the Massachusetts troops, had vol- 
imteered on the occasion as a private soldier, and 
was in the redoubt with a musket, animating the men, 
by his influence and example, to the most daring de- 
termination. 

Orders were given to the Americans to reserve 
their fire till the enemy advanced sufficiently near 
to make their aim certain. Several vollies were 
fired by the British with but little success; and so 
long a time had elapsed, and the British were allow- 
ed to advance so near the Americans without their 
fire being returned, that a doubt arose whether or 
not the latter intended to give battle — but the fatal 
moment soon arrived : — when the British had ad- 
vanced to within about eight rods, a sheet of fire 
was poured upon them and continued a short time 
9* 



98 

with such deadly effect that hundreds of the assai-1- 
ants lay weltering in their blood, and the remainder 
retreated in dismay to the point where they had first 
landed. 

From day light to the time of the British advan- 
cing on the works, an incessant fire had been kept 
up on the Americans from the ships and batteries — 
this fire was now renewed with increased vigor. 

After a short time the British officers had succeed- 
ed in rallying their men, and again advanced in the 
same order as before, to the attack. Thinking to 
divert the attention of the Americans, the town of 
Charlestown, consisting of 500 wooden buildings, 
was now set on fire by the British — the roar of the 
flames, the crashing of falling timbers, tho ^wful 
appearance of desolation presented, the dreadful 
shrieks of the dying and the wounded in the last at- 
tack, added to the knowledge of the formidable 
force advancing against them, combined to form a 
scene apparently too much for m^n bred in the qui- 
et retirement of domestic life to sustain — but the 
stillness of death reigned within ihe American works 
— and nought could be seen but the deadly presen- 
ted weapon, ready to hurl fresh destruction on the 
assailants. The fire of the Americans was again 
reserved till the British came still nearer than be- 
fore, when the same unerring aim was taken, and 
the British shrunk, terrified, from before its fatal ef- 
fects, flying, completely routed, a second lime to the 
banks'of the river, and leaving, as before, the field 
strewed with their wounded and their dead. 

Again the ships and batteries renewed their fircj 
and kept a continual shower of balls on the works. 
Notwithstanding every exertion, the British officers 
found it impossible to rally the men for a third at- 
tack ; one third of their comrades had fallen ; ajitj 



finally it was not till a reinforcement of more ihaii 
1000 fresh troops, with a strong park of artillery, 
had joined them from Boston, that they could be in- 
duced to form anew. 

In the mean time every effort was made on the 
part of the Americans to resist a third attack ; Gen. 
Putnam rode, notwithstanding the heavy fire of the 
ships and batteries, several times across the neck, lo 
induce the militia to advance, but it was only a few 
of the resolute and brave who would encounter the 
storm. The British receiving reinforcements from 
their formidable main body — the town of Charles- 
town presenting one wide scene of destruction — 
the probability the Americans must shortly retreat— 
the shower of balls pouring over the neck— pre- 
sented obstacle^ loo appalling for raw troops to sus- 
tain, and embodied too much danger to allow 
them to encounter. — Yet, notwithstanding all this, 
the Americans on the heights were elated with 
their success, and waited with coolness and de- 
termination the now formidable advance of the 
enemy. 

Once more the British, aided by their reinforce^ 
ments, advanced to the attack, but with great skill 
and caution — their artillery was planted on the 
eastern declivity of the hill, between the rail fence 
and the breast work, where it was directed along 
the line of the Americans, stationed at the latter 
place, and against the gate way on the north east- 
ern corner of the redoubt — at the same time they 
attacked the redoubt on the south eastern and 
south western sides, and entered it with fixed bay- 
onets. The slaughter on their advancing, was 
great ; but the Americans, not having bayonets to 
meet them on equal terms, and their powder being 
exhausted, now slowly retreated, opposing and ex- 



100 

tncating themselves from the British with the butts 
of their pieces. 

The cohiiiiM that advanced against the rail fence 
was received in the mo^st dauntless manner. The 
Americans fought with spirit and heroism that could 
not be surpassed, and had their ammunition have 
held out, would have secured to themselves a third 
time the palm of victory ; as it was, they eiiectually 
prevented the enemy from accomplishing his purpose, 
winch Avas to turn their Hank and cut the whole of 
t!ie Americans oil*; but having become perfectly ex- 
hausted, this body of the Americans also slowly re- 
tired, retreating in much better order than could pos- 
sibly have been expected from undisciplined tDops, 
and those in the redoubt having extricated them- 
selves from a host of bayonets by which they had 
been surrountled. 

The British followed the Americans to Bunker 
Hill, but some fresh militia at this moment coming 
up to the aid of the latter, covered their retreat. 
The Americans crossed Charlestown Neck about 7 
vi'clock, having in the last twenty hours performed 
deeds which seem almost impossible. Some of ihem 
proceeded to Cambridge and others posted them- 
selves quietly on Winter and Prospect Hills. 

From the most acurate statements that can be 
found, it appears the British must have had nearl}'' 
5,000 soldiers in the battle ; between 3 and 4000 
having first landed, and the reinforcement amount- 
ing to over 1,000. The Americans, throughout the 
whole day, did not have 2,000 men on the field. 

The slaughter on the side of the British was im- 
mense, having had nearly 1,500 killed and wounded; 
twelve hundred of which were either killed or mor- 
tally wounded, — the Americans about 400. 



101 

Had the Commanders at Charlestown Heights 
become tcrrifH^d on being cut ofi' from their main 
body and su|)})lies, and surrendered their army, or 
even retreated before they did, from the terrific 
force that opposed them, where would have now 
been that ornament and example to the world, the 
Independence of the United States ? — AVhen it was 
found that no reinforcements were to be allowed 
them, the most sanguine man on that field could not 
have even indulged a hope of success, but all deter- 
mined to deserve it — and although they did not ob- 
tain a victory, their example was the cause of a 
great many. — The first attempt on the commence- 
ment of a war is held u[), by one party or the other, 
as an example to those that succeed it, and a Victory 
or Defeat, though not, ]>erhaps, of any great magni- 
tude in itself, is njost powerful and imj)oi1ant in its 
efFects. Had such conduct as was here exhibited, 
been in any degree imitated by the immetlintc Com- 
mander in the first military onset of the last war^ 
how truly diflerent a result would have been eflcct- 
cd to the fatal one that terminated that unfortunate 
expedition. 

From the immense superiority of the British, at 
this stage of the war, having a large army of highly 
disciplined and well ecjuipped troops, and the Amer- 
icans possessing but few other munitions or weap- 
ons of war, and l)ut little more discipline, than what 
each man possessed when he thj-ew aside his plough 
and took the gun that he had kept for pastime or 
for pi-ofit, but now to be employed for a different 
purf)ose, from oil' the hooks that held it, — perhaps 
it would have been in their f)o\>er, by pursuing the 
Americans to Cambridge, and destroying the few 
stores that had bern collected there, to implant 
a blow which could never have been recovered 



from, but they were completely terrified. The 
awful lesson they had just received, filled them 
with horror, and the blood of 1,500 of their com^ 
panions, who fell on that day, presented to them a 
warning which they could never forget. From the 
Battle of Bunker Hill, sprung the protection and the 
vigor that nurtured the Tree of Liberty, and to it, 
in all probability^ may be ascribed our Indepen- 
dence and Glory* 

The name of the firs-t martyr that gave his life for 
the good of bis country on that day, in the impor- 
tance of the moment was lost, else a Monument, in 
connection with the gallant Warren, should be rais- 
ed to his memory. The manner of his death was 
thus related by Col. Prescott : 

" The first man who fell in the Battle of Bunker 
Hill was killed by a cannon ball, which struck his 
bead. He was so near me that my clothes were 
besmeared with his blood and brains, which I wiped 
off in some degree, with a handful of fresh earth. 
The sight was so shocking to many of the men, that 
they left their posts and ran to view him. I ordered 
them back, but in vain. I then ordered him to be 
buried instantly. A subaltern officer expressed 
surprise that 1 should allow him to be buried with- 
out having prayers said ; I rephed, this is the first 
man that has been killed, and the only one that will 
be buried to day. I put him out of sight that the 
men may be kept in their places, God only knows 
who, or how many of us, will fall before it is overo 
To your post, my good fellow, and let each man do 
his duly." 

The name of the patriot who thus fell is suppo- 
sed to have been Pollard, a young man belonging 
to Billerica. He was struck by a cannon ball 
thrown from the liae of battle ship Somerset, 



103 
\b7.) ArnoWs march through the Wilderness, 

About the same time that Canada was invadad by 
the usual route from New York, a considerable de- 
tachment of the American army was brought tn.ither 
by a new and unexpected passage. Arnold, who 
conducted this -bold undertaking, acquired thereby 
the name of the American HannJbal, He was sent, 
by General Washington, with a thousand men, 
from Cambridge, with orders to penetrate into that 
province, by ascending the Kennebec, and iben, 
after crossing the mountains which divide Canada 
from Maine, by descending the -Chaudiere, to the 
St, Lawrence. Great were the di>fficullies, and se- 
vere the deprivations, they had to encounter, in 
marching three hundred miles, by an unexplored 
way, through an uninhabited -country. Jn ascend- 
ing the Kennebec, they v>^ere consta^ntly obliged to 
struggle against an impetuous current ; they were 
often compelled, by cataracts, to land, and haul 
their batteaux up rapid streams, and over falls of riv- 
ers. They had to contend with swam-ps, woods, 
and craggy mountains. At some places, they had 
to cut their way, for miles together, through forests, 
50 embarrassed, that their progress was only four 
or five miles a day. One third of their number 
were, from sickness and want of food, obliged to 
return. Provisions grew at length so scarce, that 
some of the men eat their dogs, cartouch boxes, 
leather small clothes, and shoes. Still they pro- 
ceeded with unabated fortitude. They gloried in 
the hope of completing a march which would rival 
the greatest exploits of antiquity ; and on the third 
of November, after thirty-one days spent in traver- 
sing a hideous desert, they reached the inhabited 
parts of Canada, where the people were struck with 



104 



amazement and admiration, when they saw this ai- 
med force emerging from the wilderness. 

Grimshaw^s Hist, U, S, 



(58.) Death of Gen, Montgomery, 

Richard Montgomery, a Major General in the ar- 
my of the United States, was born in the north of 
Ireland, in the year 1737. He possessed an excel- 
lent genius, which was matured by a fir^e education. 
Entering the army of Great Britain,- he successfully 
fought her batdes with Wolfe, at Quebec, in 1759, 
on the very spot, where he was doomed to fall, 
when fighting against her, under the banners of 
freedom. After his return to England, he quitted 
his regiment, in 1772, though in a fair way to pre- 
ferment. He had imbibed an attachment to Ameri- 
ca, viewing it as the rising seat of arts and freedom. 
After his arrival in this country, he purchased an 
estate in New York, about a hundred miles from the 
city, and married a daughter of Judge Livingston. 
He now considered himself as an American. When 
the struggle with Great Britain commenced, as he 
was known to have an ardent attachment to liberty, 
and iiad expressed his readiness to draw his sword 
on the side of the Colonies, the command of the 
continental forces in the northern department, was 
entrusted to him and General Schuyler, in the fall 
of 1775. 

By the indisposition of Schuyler, the chief com- 
mand devolved upon him in October. He reduced 
fort Chamblee, and on the third of November, cap- 
tured St. Johns. On the 12th, he took Mont- 
real. In December, he joined Col. Arnold, and 
marched to Quebec. The city was besieged, and 



i05 

on the last day of the year it was determined to 
make an assault. The several divisions were ac- 
cordingly put in motion, in the midst of a heavy 
fall of snow which concealed them from the enemy. 
Montgomery advanced at the head of the New 
\?'ork troops, along the St. Lawrence, and having 
assisted with his own hands in pulling up the pick- 
ets, which obstructed his approach to one of the 
barriers he was determined to force, he was pushed 
forwards, when one of the guns from the battery 
was discharged, and he was killed, with his two 
aids. This was the only gun that was fired, for the 
enemy had been struck with consternation and aU 
but one or two had fled. But this event probably 
prevented the capture of Quebec. When he fell, 
Montgomery was in a narrow passage, and his body 
rolled upon the ice, which formed by the side of the 
river. After it was found the next morning among 
the slain, it was buried by a few soldiers, without 
any marks of distinction. He was thirty-eight years 
of age. He was a man of great military talents, 
whose measures were taken with judgment, and 
executed with vigor. With undisciplined troops, 
who were jealous of him in the extreme, he yet in- 
jnspired them with his own enthusiasm. He shared 
with them in all their hardships, and thus prevent- 
ed their complaints. His industry could not be 
wearied, nor his vigilance imposed upon, nor his 
courage intimidated. 

To express the high sense entertained by his.coun- 
try, of his services, Congress directed a monument 
of white marble, to his memory, should be placed 
in front of St. Paul's Church, New York. 

The remains of General Montgomery, after rest- 
ing 42 years at Quebec, by a resolve of the State 
of New York, were brought to the city of New 
10 



106 



York, on the 8th of July, 1818, and deposited with 
ample form and grateful ceremonies, near the afore- 
said monument in St. Paul's Church.— ./V/or^e'^ Rev. 



(59.) Washington, Commander in Chief of the 
American Army, 

In May, 1775, Congress met agreeable to 
adjournment. Hostilities having commenced, it was 
a point of vital importance to the American cause, 
to select a proper person for Commander in Chief 
of the American forces, 

George Washington,* a delegate from Virginia, 
*For three years subsequent to the defeat of Braddock, 
Washington superintended the troops of Virginia; in which 
Jiighly dangerous service, he continued until peace was giv- 
en to the frontier of his native Colony, by the reduction of 
fort Duquesne; an enterprize undertaken in conformity with 
his repeated solicitations, and accompanied by himself, at 
the head of his own regiment. The arduous duties of his 
situation, rendered irksome by the invidious treatment e:s^- 
perienced from the Governor, and by the unmanageable dis- 
position of the officers and privates under his command, 
were related by himself, in a highly ioterestiog narrative, 
and fully acknowledged by the assembly of Virginia. Soon 
afterwards, he retired to his estate at Mount Vernon, and 
pursued the arts of peaceful life, with great industry and 
success. When the proceedings of the British Parliament 
had alarmed the colonists with apprehensions that a blow 
was levelled at their liberties, he again came forward to 
serve the public; was appointed a delegate to Congress; and 
in that body, was chairman of every committee selected to 
make arrangements for defence. He was now in his forty- 
fourth year, possessed a large share of common sense, and 
was directed by a sound judgment. Engaged in the busy 
scenes of life, he knew human nature, and the most proper 
method of accomplishing his plans. His passions were sub- 
dued, and held in si>fejection to reason. His mind was supe- 
rior to prejudice and party spirit ; his soul too generous io 
burthen his country with expense; his priqciples too just to 



107 

was, by the unanimous voice of Congress, appoint- 
ed to fill this important station, on the 15th of June, 

1775, '* To Washington's experience in mihtary 
affairs were united sound judgment, extensive know- 
ledge of men, perfect probity, pure morals, a 
grave deportment, indefatigable industry, easy 
manners, strict politeness, a commanding person, 
cool bravery, unshaken fortitude, and a prudence 
that baffled and confounded his enemies." 

Soon after his appointment, General Washing- 
ton repaired to the army, who were besieging Bos- 
ton ; he was received with profound respect and 
joyful acclamations by the American army. 

The Americans having so closely invested Boston, 
the British commander judged it prudent to evacuate 
the town, which they did on the 17th of March, 

1776, taking with them 1500 of the inhabitants, 

allow his placing military glory in competilion with the pub- 
lic good. 

On the President of Congress announcing his commission, 
lie replied : " Though I am truly sensible of the high honor 
done me in this appointment, yet, I feel a deep distress, from 
a consciousness, that my alailities and military experience 
may not be equal to the extensive and important trust. 
However, as the Congress desire it, I will enter on the mo- 
mentous duty, and exert every power I possess, in their ser- 
vice for the support of the glorious cause. I beg they will 
accept my most cordial thanks for this distinguished testimo- 
ny of their approbation. But, lest some unlucky event 
should happen, unfavorable to my reputation, I beg it may be 
remembered by every gentleman in the room, that I this 
day declare, with the utmost sincerity, I do not think myself 
equal to the command I am honored with. As to pay, sir, 
I beg leave to assure the Congress, that, as no pecuniary 
consideration could have tempted me to accept this arduous 
employment, at the expense of my domestic ease and happi- 
ness, I do not wish to make any profit from it. I will keep 
an exact account of my disbursements ; those, I doubt not, 
they will discharge, and that is all I desire." — Grimshaw^^ 
HUt. U. S. 



108 



who dared not stay, on account of their attachment 
to the British cause. 

General Washington immediately entered the 
town, to the great joy of the inhabitants. 



(60.) Attack on Sullivaii's Island. 

In the months of June and July, in 1776, the 
British commanders, Gen. Clinton and Sir Peter 
Parker, attempted to destroy the fort on Sullivan's 
Island, near Charleston, S. C. Their force con- 
sisted of two 50 gun ships, and four frigates of 28 
guns each, besides several smaller vessels, with 
3000 troops on board. The fort was commanded 
by Col. Moultrie, with a garrison of but 375 regu- 
lars, and a few militia. This fort, though not en- 
tirely finished, was very strong. 

" However, the British Generals resolved, with- 
out hesitation, to attack it ; but though an attack 
was easy from the sea, it was very difficult to obtain 
a co-operation of the land forces. This was at- 
tempted by landing them on Long Island, adjacent 
to Sullivan's Island on the east, from which it is 
separated by a very narrow creek, said to be not 
above two feet deep at low water. 

Opposite to this ford, the Americans had post- 
ed a strong body of troops, with cannon and en- 
trenchments, while Gen. Lee was posted on the 
main land, with a bridge of boats betwixt that and 
Sullivan's Island, so that he could at pleasure send 
reinforcements to the troops in the fort on Sulhvan's 
Island. 

On the part of the British, so many delays oc- 
curred, that it was the 24th of June before matters 
were in readiness for an attack ; and by this time, 
the Americans had abundantly provided for their 



109 

reception. On the morning of that day, the bomb 
ketch began to throw shells into Fort Sullivan, and 
about raid-day, the two fifty gun ships, and thirty 
gun frigates, came up, and began a severe fire. 

Three other frigates were ordered to take their 
station between Charleston and the fort, in order to 
enfilade the batteries, and cut olf the communica- 
tion with the main land; but through the ignorance 
of the pilots, they all stuck fast ; and though two of 
them were disentangled, they were found to be to- 
tally unfit for service. The third was burnt, that 
she might not fall into the hands of the Americans. 

The attack was therefore confined to the five ar- 
med ships and bomb-ketch, between whom and the 
fort a dreadful fire ensued. The Bristol sufl^red 
excessively; the springs on her cable being shot 
away, she was for some time entirely exposed to 
the enemy's fire. As the Americans poured in 
great quantities of red hot balls, she was twice ia 
flames. Her Captain, Mr. Morris, after receiving 
five wounds, was obliged to go below deck, in or- 
^er to have his arm amputated. After undergoing 
this operation, he returned to his place, where he 
received another wound, but still refused to quit his 
station. At last, he received a red hot ball in hjs 
belly, which instantly put an end to his life. 

Of all the officers and seamen who stood on the 
quarter-deck of the Bristol, not one escaped with- 
out a wound, excepting Sir Peter Parker alone-; 
whose intrepidity and presence of mmd on this oc- 
casion, were very remarkable. The engagement 
lasted till darkness put an end to it. Little damage 
was done by the British, as the works of the Amer- 
icans lay so low, that many of the shot flew over ; 
and the fortifications, being composed of palm tre#s 

10* 



no 

mixed with earth, were extremely well calculateci 
to resist the impression of cannon. 

During the height of the attack, the American 
batteries remained for some time silent, so that it 
was conchided that they had been abandoned; but 
this was fouFid to proceed only from want of pow- 
der ; for as soon as a supply of this necessary arti- 
cle was olHained, the firing was resumed as brisk 
as before. During the whole of this desperate en- 
gagement, it was found impossible for the land for- 
ces to give the least assistance to the lleet ; the Ame- 
rican works were found to be much stronger than they 
had been imagined, and the depth of water eftectu- 
ally prevented them from making any attempt. 

In this unsuccessful attack, the killed and woun- 
ded on the part of the British, amounted to about 
two hundred. The Bristol and Experiment were 
30 much dam.aged, that it was thought they could 
not have been got over the bar ; however this was 
at last accomplished, by a very great exertion of 
naval skill, to the surprise of the Americans, who 
had expected to make them both prizes. On the 
American side, the loss was judged to have been 

Revolutio7u 



(61.) Declaration of Indepejidence. 

The American people, exasperated by the pro- 
ceedings of the British Government, which placed 
them out of their protection, and engaging foreign 
mercenaries to assist in subduing them, began to 
broach the subject of Independence from the British 
crown. 

Accordingly, the subject was brought before Con- 
gress ; but some of the members of that body being 
absent, they adjourned its consideration to the first 
of July. 



Ill 

They accordingly met, and appointed Thoma* 
Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger 
Sherman, and Philip Livingston, to frame the De- 
claration of Independence. They agreed that each 
of their number should draft a declaration, and 
read it next day, in rotation, to the rest. They ac- 
cordingly met, and Mr. Jefferson was fixed upon 
to " read first ^^ his gave such satisfaction that none 
other was read. Their report was accepted, and 
Congress declared " the thirteen United States Free 
and Independent^'^'' July 4, 1776, 

'' This declaration was received by the people 
with transports of joy. Public rejoicings took place 
in various parts of the Union. In New York, the 
statue of George III. was taken down, and the lead 
of which it was composed was converted into mus- 
ket balls." 

The Declaration of Independence was, by order of Con- 
gress, engrossed, and sig-ned by the following members: 

JOHN HANCOCK. 

JVeu) Hampshire. Francis Lewis, 

Josiah Bartlett, Lewis Morris, 

William Whipple, J^ew Jersey, 

Matthew Thornton. Richard Stockton, 

Massachusetts Bay, John Witherspoon, 

Samuel Adams, Francis Hopkinson> 

John Adams, John Hart, 

Robert Treat Paine, Abraham Clark. 

Elbridge Gerry. Pennsylvania. 

Rhode Islandj S^c. Robert Morris, 

Stephen Hopkins, Benjamin Rush, 

William EUery. Benjamin FrankliDj 

Connecticut. John Morton, 

Roger Sherman, George Clymer, 

Samuel Huntington, James Smith, 

William Williams, George Taylor, 

Oliver Wolcott. James Wilson, 

J^ew York. George Ross, 

William Floyd, Thomaa M'Kean., 
Philip Livingston, 



lis 

Delaware. Carter BraxtoB. 

Caesar Rodnej' , jYorth Cat'olinit. 

George Rt*ad. William Hooper, 

Maryland. Joseph Hewes, 

Samuel Chase, John Fenn. 

Wil|ic-m Paca, South Carolindi. 

Thonia,s Stone, Edward Rutledge, 
Charies Carrol!, of Carrollton.Thomas Hey ward, Jc 

Fiyginia. Thomas Lynch, Jr. 

Georg-e Wythe, Arthur Middieton. 
Richard Henry Lee, Georgia:, 

Thomas Jefferson, Button Gwinnett, 

Benjamin Harrison, Lyman Hall, 

Thomas Nelson, Jr. Georgia Walton* 
jf rancis Lightfoot Lee, 



(62.) Battle on Lo)ig Island. 

The command of the British lorce, destined to 
operate against New York, was given to Admiral 
Lord Howe and his brother Sir Wilham, who, in 
addition to their military powers, were appointed 
commissioners for restoring peace to, the Colonics. 
General Howe, after waiting two months at Hahfax 
for his brother^ and the expected reinforcements 
from England, sailed with the force which he had 
previously commanded in Boston ; and directing his 
course towards New York, arrived in the latter end 
of June, oft' Sandy Hook. Admiral Lord Howe, 
with part of the reinforcement from England, arri^ 
ved at Halifax, soon after his brother's departure ; 
and without dropping anchor, followed and joined 
him near Staten Islands These two royal commis- 
sioners, before they commenced military operations, 
attempted to effect a re-union between the Colonies 
and Great Britain; but both the substance and the 
form of their communications for that purpose, were 
too exceptionable, to be for a moment seriously re- 
garded-. 



113 



The British forces waited so long to receive ac^ 
cessions from Halifax, South Carohna, Florida, the 
West Indies and Europe, that the month of August 
was far advanced before they were in a condition ta 
open the campaign. Their commanders, having re- 
solved to make their first attempt on Long Island, 
landed their troops, estimated at about twenty-iour 
thousand men, at Gravesend Bay, to the right of the 
Narrows. The Americans, to the amount of htteen 
thousand, under Major General Sullivan, were 
T30sted on a peninsula between Mill Creek, a little 
above Red Hook, and an elbow of East River, cal- 
led Whaaleboght Bay. Here they had erected 
strong fortifications, which were separated trora 
New York by East River, at the ^'stance of a 
mile. A line of entrenchments from the Mil Creek 
enclosed a large space of ground, on ^vh.ch stood 
the American camp, near the village ot Brooklyn. 
This line was secured by abattis, and flanked by 
?;trong redoubts. The armies wei;e separated by a 
ran-c cf hills, covered v;;th a thick ^22^1, v;:;;C« 
intersect the country from west to east, terminating 
on the east near Jamaica. Through these hills 
there were three roads ; one near the Narrows, a 
second on the Flatbush road, and a third on the 
Bedford road ; and these were the only passes from 
the south side of the hilln to the American lines, ex^ 
eeptinf' a road, which leads to Jamaica round the 
easterly end of the hills. General Putnam, agree- 
ably to the instructions of General Washington, had 
detached a considerable part of his men to occupy 
the woody hills and passes; but in the performance 
of this service there appears to have been a deficien- 
cy, either of skill or of vigilance. , , , , 

When the whole British army was landed, the 
Hessians, under General De Heister, composed the 



114 

centre atFlatbush ; Major General Grant cominand- 
ed the left wing, which extended to the coast; and 
the principal army, under the command of General 
CHnton, Earl Percy, and Lord Cornwallis, turned 
short to the right, and approached the opposite 
coast at Fladand. The position of the Americans 
having been reconnoitered. Sir William Howe, from 
the intelligence given him, determined to attempt 
to turn their left flank. The right wing of his ar- 
my, consisting of a strong advanced corps, com- 
manded by General Clinton and supported by the 
brigades under Lord Percy, began at nine o'clock 
at night, on the 26th of August, to move from Flat- 
land; and, passing through the New Lots, arrived 
en the road that crosses the hills from Bedford to Ja- 
maica, Having taken a patrol, they seized the pass 
without alarming the Americans, At half after 
eight in the morning, the British troops, having pas- 
sed the heights and reached Bedford, began an at- 
tack on the left of the American army. In the cen- 
tre, General De Heister, soon after day light, had 
tegun to cannonade the troops, which occupied the 
direct road to Brooklyn, and which were command- 
ed by General Sullivan in person. As soon as the 
firing towards Bedford was heard, De Heister ad- 
vanced and attacked the centre of the Americans, 
who after a warm engagement, were routed and 
driven into the woods. Tlie firing towards Bedford 
giving them the alarming notice, that the British had 
turned their left flank, and were getting completely 
into their rear ; they endeavored to escape to the 
eamp. The sudden route of this party, enabled 
De Heister to detach a part of his force against those 
who were engaged near Bedford. There also the 
Americans were broken and driven into the woods ; 
and the front of the British column, led by General 



115 

Clinton, continuing to move forward, intercepted 
lind engaged those whom De Heister had routed, 
and drove them back into the woods. They again 
met the Hessians, who drove them back on the 
British. Thus alternately chased and intercepted, 
some forced their way through the enemy to the 
lines of Brooklyn ; several saved themselves in the 
coverts of the woods ; but a great part of the de- 
tachment were killed or taken. 

The left column, led by General Grant, advan- 
cing from the Narrows along the coast, to divert the 
attention of the Americans from the principal attack 
on the rights had about midnight fallen in with Lord 
Sterling's advanced guard, stationed at a strong 
pass, and compelled them to relinquish it. As they 
were slowly retiring, they were met on the summit 
of the hills about break of day, by Lord Sterling, 
who had been directed with the two nearest regi- 
ments, to meet the British on the road leading from the 
Narrows. Lord Sterling having posted his men ad- 
vantageously, a furious connor.ade commenced on 
both sides, which continued several hours. The 
firing towards Brooklyn, where the fugitives were 
pursued by the British, giving notice to Lord Ster- 
ling, that the enemy had gained his rear, he instant- 
ly gave orders to retreat across a creek, near the 
Yellow Mills. The more eflectually to secure the 
retreat of the main body of the detachment, he de- 
termined to attack in person, a British corps under 
Lord Cornwallis, stationed at a house somewhat 
above the place where he proposed crossing the 
creek. With about four hundred men, drawn out of 
Smallwood's regiment for that purpose, he made a 
very spirited attack, and brought up this small corps 
several times to the charge, with confident expecta- 
tions of dislodging Lord Cornwallis from his post; 



116 

but the force in his front increasing, and General 
Grant now advancing on his rear, he was compelled 
to surrender himself and his brave men prisoners of 
war. This bold attempt, however, gave opportuni- 
ty to a large part of the detachment to cross the 
creek and effect an escape.*— Ho/mes* Annals, 

'- After this severe defeat, Gen. Washington, wUh 
ihe advice of a council of officers, ordered a retreat 
from Long Island. On the night of the 29th, this 
was effected, with a success that was deemed a mer- 
ciful interposition of heaven. Within a smgle night, 
an army of 9,000 men, with their artillery, tents, 
and baggage, was transported to New York, over 
a difficutt ferry, a mile in width, while the British 
army was encamped within 600 yards, and did not 
discover the retreat, till too late to annoy the Amer- 
icans." 

(63.) Death of Capt, Hale, 
After General Washington, by his retreat, had left 
the British in complete possession of Long Island, 
and not knowing what would be their future opera- 
tions, he ap|)lied to General Knowlton, commander 
of a regiment of light infantry, to devise some 
means for gaining necessary information of the de- 
sign of the British in their future movements. Cap- 
tarn Hale nobly offered himself for this hazardous 

*The loss of the British and Hessians, is stated by Ameri- 
can historians at about 450 ; Stedman says, '' it did not 
exceed 300 killed and wounded." The loss of the Ameri- 
cans was not admitted by General Washington to exceed 
1000 men ; " but in this estimate, he could only have inclu- 
ded the regular troope." General Howe states the prisoner^ 
to have been 1097;' among whom were Major General Sul- 
livan, and Brigadiers Lord Sterling and Woodhull. 



;£j(e.w:T©iL"llv' 




jVmrlt-r or' MiA-- M-': Vvv/ 



i 



117 

and important service. His amiable, pious, intel- 
ligent, and patriotic character, and the sacrifice of 
his life in the manner in which he made the sacrifice, 
entide him to a distinguished rank among the first 
patriots of the revolution. The particulars of this 
tragical event, sanctioned by General Hull, who 
was knowing to them at the time, are related by Miss 
H, Adams, in her History of New England. 

" The retreat of General Washington, left the 
British in complete possession of Long Island, 
What would be their future operations, remained 
uncertain. To obtain information of their situation, 
their strength, and future movements, was of high 
importance. For this purpose, General Washing- 
ton applied to Col. Knowlton, who commanded a 
regiment of light infantry, which formed the van of 
the American army, and desired him to adopt some 
mode of gaining the necessary information. Col. 
Knowlton communicated this request to Nathan 
Hale, of Connecticut, who was then a Captain in 
his regiment. This young officer, animated by a 
sense of duty, and considering that an opportunity 
presented itself by which he might be useful to his 
country, at once offered himself a volunteer for this 
hazardous service. He passed in disguise to Long 
Island, examined every part of the British army, 
and obtained the best possible information respect- 
ing their situation and future operations. 

In his attempt to return, he was apprehended, 
carried before Sir William Howe, and the proof of 
his object was so clear, that he frankly acknowledg- 
ed who he was, and what were his views. 

Sir William Howe at once gave an order to the 
provost marshal to execute him the next mornino-. 

The order was accordingly executed in a most 
unfeeling manner, and by as great a savage as ever 

n 



118 

disgraced humanity. A clergyman, whose attend- 
ance he desired, was refused him ; a bible, for a mo- 
ment's devotion was not procured, though he re- 
quested it. Letters, which on the morning of his 
execution, he wrote to his mother and other friends, 
were destroyed ; and this very extraordinary reason 
was given by the provost marshal, " that the reb- 
els should not know that they had a man in their 
army, who could die with so much firmness." 

" Unknown to all around him, without a single 
friend to offer him the least consolation, thus fell as 
amiable and as worthy ayoung man as Americacould 
boast, with this as his dying observation, "that he only 
lamented he had but one life to lose for his country." 



(64.) Battle of Trenton, 

The summer and fall of 1776, was the most 
gloomy period of the American revolution. Gen. 
Washington had been obliged to retreat from Long 
Island to New York, thence over the Hudson to 
New Jersey, and through New Jersey to Pennsyl- 
vania, vigorously pursued by an enemy flushed 
with a series of success. The retreat through New 
Jersey, was attended with circumstances of a pain- 
ful and trying nature. Washington's army, which 
had consisted of 30,000 men, was now diminished 
to scarcely 3,000, and these were without supplies, 
without pay, and many of them without shoes or 
comfortable clothing. Their footsteps were stain- 
ed with blood, as they fled before the enemy. The 
affairs of the Americans, seemed in such a despe- 
rate condition, that those who had been most con- 
fident of success, began despairingly to give up all 
as lost. Many Americans joined the British and 



119 

took protections from them. In this season of gen- 
eral despondency, the American Congress recom- 
mended to each of the states, to observe " a day of 
solemn fasting and humihation before God." 

Gen. Washington saw the necessity of making a 
desperate effort for the salvation of his country. 
On the night of the 25th of December, 1776, the 
American army recrossed the Delaware, which was 
filled with pieces of floating ice, and marched to at- 
tack a division of Hessians, who had advanced to 
Trenton. The sun had just risen as the tents of the 
enemy appeared in sight. No time was to be lost — 
Washington rising on his stirrups, waved his sword 
towards the hostile army, and exclaimed, " There, 
my brave friends, are the enemies of your country 1 
and now all I have to ask of you is to remember what 
you are about to fight for ! March ! /" 

The troops animated by their commander, pres- 
sed on to the charge — the Hessians were taken by 
surprise, and before they could form, the contest 
was decided; about 1000 were taken prisoners, and 
40 killed, among whom was their commander, fa 
German officer,) Col. Rahl. 



{QS,) Battle of Princeton. 

On the 2d of January, 1777, Lord Cornwallis ap- 
peared near Trenton, with a strong body of troops. 
Skirmishing took place, and impeded the march of 
the British army, until the Americans had secured 
their artillery and baggage ; when they retired to 
the southward of the creek, and repulsed the ene- 
my in their attempt to pass the bridge. As General 
Washington's force was not sufficient to meet the 
enemy, and his situation was critical, he detcrmin- 



120 



ed, with the advice of a council of war, to attempt 
a stratagem. He gave orders for the troops to light 
fires in their camp, [which were intended to deceive 
the enemy.] and be prepared to march. Accord- 
ingly, at twelve o'clock at night, the troops left the 
ground, and by a circuitous march eluded the vigi- 
lance of the enemy, and early in the morning ap- 
peared at Princeton. A smart action ensued, but 
the British troops gave way. A party took refuge 
in the college, a building with strong stone walls, 
but were forced to surrender. The enemy lost, in 
killed, wounded, and prisoners, about five hundred 
men. The Americans lost but few- men ; but among 
them was a most valuable officer, General Mercer, 
Webster^ s Elements Useful Ktiowledge, 



(6G.) Battle of Brayidi/zvine. 

The British General Howe, with a force of 16,000 
men, on the 15th of August landed at the head 
of Elk river. It being obvious that his design was 
the occupation of Philadelphia, General Washing- 
ton immediately put the American army in motion 
towards that place, to prevent its falling into the 
liands of the enemy. The two armies met at Bran- 
dywine, in Delaware. 

" At day break on the morning of the eleventh, 
the royal army advanced in two colunms ; the one 
commanded by Lieutenant General Knypausen, and 
the other by Lord Cornwallis. While the first col- 
umn took the direct road to Chadd's Ford, and made 
a show of passing it in front of the main body of the 
Americans, the other moved up on the west side of 
the Brandy wine, to its fork, crossed both its branches 
about two in the afternoon, and marched down on 



121 

its eastern side, with the view of turuing the right 
wing of their adversaries. General Washington, 
on receiving intelligence of their approach, made 
the proper disposition to receive them. The divis- 
ions commanded by Sullivan, Sterling, and Stephen, 
advanced a little farther np the Brandywine, and 
fronted the column of the approaching enemy ; 
Wayne's division, with Maxwell's light infantry, re- 
mained at Chadd's Ford, to keep Knypausen in 
check ; Green's division, accompanied by General 
Washington, formed a reserve, and took a central 
position between the right and left wings. The di- 
visions detached against Cornwallis, took posses- 
sion of the heights above Birmingham church, their 
left reaching towards the Brandywine ; the artillery 
was judiciously placed, and their flanks were cov- 
ered by woods. About four o'clock. Lord 
Cornwallis formed the line of battle, and began the 
attack. The Americans sustained it for some time 
with intrepidity ; but the right at length giving way, 
the remaining divisions, exposed to a galling fire 
on the flank, continued to break on the right, and the 
whole line was soon completely routed. As soon as 
Cornwallis had commenced the attack, Knypausen 
Grossed the ford, and attacked the troops, posted 
for its defence ; which, after a severe conflict, were 
compelled to give way. The retreat of the Ameri- 
cans, which soon became general, was continued 
that night to Chester, and the next day to Philadel- 
phia. The loss sustained by the Americans in this 
action, is estimated at three hundred killed and six 
hundred wounded. Between three and four hun- 
dred, principally the wounded, were made prison- 
ers. The loss of the British was stated to be rath- 
er less than one hundred killed, and four hundred 
vvounded. — Holmes^ Annals, 
11* 



122 

Among the wounded were two general officers ; the Mar- 
quis de Lu Fayette, and General Woodford. The first of 
these was a French nobleman, who at the age of 19 years 
only, left France and offered his services to Congress, which 
gave him the rank of Major General in their army. Count 
Pulaski, a Polish nobleman, fought also with the Americans i 
in this battle. — lb. 



(67.) Battle of Germantown, and the Attack on 
Red Bank. 

After General Howe had taken possession of Phil- 
adelphia, it became necessary for him to take the 
forts on the Delaware, in order to open a commu- 
nication with the Atlantic. Accordingly, a part of 
the royal army w'ere detached for that purpose. 
Gen. Washington seized this opportunity to attack 
the remainder, at Germantown. On the morning 
of the 4th of October, Washington attacked the 
enemy with such judgment and fury, that they gave 
way in every quarter. ^' The tumult, disordcry and 
despair in the British armyy'' says Washington, 
'''' loere unparalleled.'^^ But unfortunately, an un- 
common thick fog, occasioned many mistakes in the 
American army ; and after a severe action, they 
were obliged to retreat, with the loss of about 1000 
men in killed and wounded ; among them was Gen. 
Nash, and his aid, Major VVitherspoon. The Brit- 
ish lost upwards of 500 men, with Qen. Agnew and 
Col. Bird. 

The detachment of the British army, sent to at- 
tack the fort at Red Bank, on the Jersey shore, 
was commanded by Count Donop, a brave and 
high spirited German officer. The fort was defend- 
ed by about 400 men, under Col. Green. Count 
Donop, with undaunted firmness, led on his men to 
an assault. After a few well directed fires, Green 



123 

and his men artfully retired from the outworks. 
The enemy now supposing the day their own, rush- 
ed forward in great numbers, along a large opening 
in the fort, and within twenty paces of a masked 
battery, of eighteen pounders, loaded with grape 
shot and spike nails. Immediately the garrison 
opened a tremendous fire upon their assailants, 
which swept them down in great numbers. Count 
Donop was mortally wounded and taken prisoner^ 
In this expedition, the enemy are supposed to have 
lost about 400 men. 



(68.) Murder of Miss McCrea, 

Previous to the American revolution, there resi- 
ded near fort Edward, an accomplished young man, 
named Jones, and a young lady by the name of 
McCrea, between whom a strong attachment sub- 
sisted. Upon the breaking out of war, Mr. Jones, 
who favored the royalists, fled into Canada. 
Thence he accompanied the expedition of Bur- 
goyne into the States. When the British army 
were within about three miles of fort Edward, Mr. 
Jones found means secretly to inform Miss Mc- 
Crea of his approach ; he entreated her not to leave 
the place, and informed her, that as soon as the fort 
had surrendered, he would seek an asylum where 
they might peacefully consummate the nuptial cere- 
mony. Confiding in her lover. Miss McCrea hero- 
ically refused to follow the flying villagers. The 
tears and intreaties of her parents and friends avail- 
ed nothing. Mr. Jones, anxious to possess his in- 
tended bride, despatched a party of Indians to con- 
vey her to the British army, and ofl^ered to reward 
them for their service with a barrel of rum. The 



124 

Indians brought a letter from her lover, and also 
his horse to convey Miss McCrea ; she scrupled 
not to place herself under their protection, and ac- 
cordingly set out for the British camp. When 
about half way, a second party of Indians hearing 
of the captivating offer made by Mr. Jones, deter- 
mined to avail themselves of the reward. A bloody 
strife ensued, in which some Indians w^ere killed, 
when the chief of the first party, to decide the con- 
test, with his tomahawk knocked the lady from her 
horse, tore off her scalp, and bore it as a trophy 
to her anxious and expectant lover ! This atrocious 
and cruel murder, roused the American people, and 
produced one general burst of horror and indigna- 
tion throughout the States, against the British and 
their savage allies, and probably hastened the 
downfall of Burgoyne. 



(69.) Battle of Bennington and Capture of Burgoyne, 

In the spring of 1777, it was determined in Eng- 
land that an invasion of the States should be at- 
tempted from the north, and a communication form- 
ed between Canada and the city of New- York, and 
thus cut off the communication between the New 
England and more southern States. 

'" The troops destined for this service were up- 
wards of seven thousand ; with a train of artillery, 
the finest, and the most efficiently supplied, that had 
ever been assigned to second the operations of an 
equal force. Arms and accoutrements were provi- 
ded for the Canadians, and several nations of In- 
dians induced to take up the hatchet under the royal 
banners. The command was given to General Bur- 
goyne \ an officer whose abilities were well knowi). 



125 

and whose spirit of enterprise, and thirst of military 
fame, could not be exceeded. The British had the 
exclusive navigation of Lake Champlain. Their 
marine force on that inland sea, with which, in the 
preceding campaign, they had destroyed the Ameri- 
can flotilla, was not only entire, but unopposed. 

" Having gained possession of Ticonderoga, as 
well as of the other defences which had served to 
prevent or to impede the advance of an enemy into 
the United States on the side of Canada, and with a 
degree of alacrity and perseverance not to be excel- 
led, they reached Fort Edward, on the Hudson, Bur- 
goyne proceeded, in the beginning of August, to 
force his passage down towards Albany. In the 
meantime, every obstruction had been thrown in his 
way, by Schuyler, Arnold, St. Clair, and other vi- 
gilant commanders ; who, at this period, owing to 
the evacuation of the northern forts, and the exer- 
tions of the leading patriots in New-York and the 
contiguous provinces, had in that quarter an army 
of thirteen thousand men. 

" In his advance to Albany, Burgoyne formed a 
plan to draw resources from the farms of Vermont. 
For this purpose, he detached five hundred Hessians 
and one hundred Indians, with two field-pieces, 
under the command of Colonel Baum ; a force 
deemed sufficient to seize a magazine of provisions 
collected by the Americans at Bennington. But he 
proceeded with less caution than his perilous situa- 
tion required. On the 16th of August, Colonel 
Starke attacked him, near that place, with about 
eight hundred New-Hampshire militia, — undisci- 
plined, without bayonets, or a single piece of artil- 
lery ; killed or capiured the greater part of his de- 
tachment, and got possession of his cannon. This 
was a brilliant service. Another achievement, 



126 

scarcely less conspicuous, immediately succeeded^ 
Colonel Breyman, who had been sent by General 
Burgoyne to support that party, arrived on the same 
ground, and on the same day, not, however, until 
the action was decided. Instead of meeting his 
friends, he found himself vigorously assailed. This 
attack was made by Colonel Warner ; who, with his 
continental regiment, had come up, also to support 
his friends, and was well assisted by Starke's militia, 
which had just defeated the party of Colonel Baum. 
Breyman's troops, though fatigued with the prece- 
ding march, behaved with great resolution ; but 
were at length obliged to abandon their artillery, and 
retreat. In these two actions, the Americans took 
four brass field-pieces, four ammunition wagons, and 
seven hundred prisoners. 

" The overthrow of these detachments was the 
first, in a grand series of events, that finally involved 
in ruin the whole royal army. It deranged every 
plan for continuing, or even holding, the advantages 
previously obtained ; inspired the Americans with 
confidence, animated their exertions, and filled them 
with justly-formed expectations, of future victory. 

" After the evacuation of Ticonderoga, the Ame- 
ricans had fallen back, from one place to another, 
until they at last rested at Vanshaick's island. Soon 
after this retreating system was adopted. Congress 
removed their commanding officers, and placed 
General Gates at the head of the northern army. 
His arrival, on the 19th of August, gave fresh vigor 
to the inhabitants. Encouraged by a hope of cap- 
turing the whole British forces, a spirit of adventure 
burst forth fron every quarter, and was carried into 
various directions. An enterprise was undertaken 
by General Lificoln, to recover Ticonderoga and the 
©ther posts in the rear of the British army ; and, 



127 

though the first object was not accomplished, yet 
with so much address did Colonel Brown, who was 
despatched to the landing at LakeGeorge, proceed, 
that, with five hundred men, he not only surprised 
all the out-posts between the landing at the north 
end of the lake and the body of that fortress ; took 
Mount Defiance and Mount Hope, the old French 
lines, and a block-house ; also two hundred bat- 
teaux, several gun boats, besides two hundred and 
ninety prisoners ; but at the same time, released 
one hundred Americans. 

" Burgoyne, after crossing the Hudson, advanced 
along its banks, and encamped about two miles from 
General Gates, a short distance above Still Water* 
The Americans thought no more of retreating ; and, 
on the 19th of September, engaged him with firm- 
ness and resolution. The conflict, though severe, 
was only partial, for the first hour and a half; but, 
after a short pause, it became general, and continu- 
ed for three hours without intermission. A constant 
blaze of fire streamed forth, and both sides seemed 
determined on victory or death. The Americans 
and British were alternately driven by each other, 
until night ended the eftusion of blood. The enemy 
lost five hundred men, including killed, wounded, 
and prisoners ; the Americans, three hundred. 

^' Every moment made the situation of the British 
army more critical. Their provisions were lessen- 
ing, their Indian and provincial allies deserting; 
whilst the animation and numbers of the Americans 
increased. From the uncertainty of receiving fur- 
ther supplies, Burgoyne curtailed the soldiers' ra- 
tions. His opponents pressed him on every side. 
Much hard fighting ensued. The British were again 
defeated. One of Burgoyne's Generals, together 
with his aid-de-camp, was killed, and he himself 



128 

narrowly escaped ; as a ball passed through his hat, 
and another through his waistcoat. The American 
Generals Arnold and Lincoln were wounded. To 
avoid being surrounded, General Burgoyne left his 
hospital to the humanity of Gates, and retreated to 
Saratoga. He was still followed, and harassed ; 
driven on one side and straitened on another. The 
situation of his army was truly distressing : aban- 
doned by their allies, unsupported by their fellow- 
soldiers in New- York, worn down by a series of in- 
cessant efforts, and greatly reduced in number ; 
without a possibility of retreat, or of replenishing 
their exhausted stock of provisions : a continual 
cannonade pervaded their camp, and grape-shot fell 
in many parts of their lines. 

" The 12th of October arrived ; the day until 
which hope had bidden the afflicted General wait for 
the promised assistance from New- York. But ex- 
pectation vanished with the departing sun. He 
took an account of his provisions. There was only 
a scanty subsistence for three days. A council of 
war declared that their present situation justified a 
capitulation on honorable terms ; and a negotia- 
tion was commenced. After various messages pass- 
ed between the hostile armies, it was stipulated, 
that, on the 1 7th, the British were to march out of 
their camp with the customary honors of w^ar ; the 
arms to be piled by word of command from their 
own officers ; and an undisturbed passage allowed 
them to Great Britain, on condition of their not 
serving again in North America during the war. 

"By this convention, were surrendered five thou- 
sand seven hundred and ninety, of all ranks ; w^iich 
number, added to the killed, w^ounded, and prison- 
ers, lost by the royal army during the preceding 
part of the expedition, made, altogether, upwards pf 



T^>p^ir^¥oi'k. 








Sfornnjuf of Sft>nfv Bunt 



129 

ten thousand men 5 an advantage rendered still more 
important to the captors, by the acquisition of thirty- 
five brass field-pieces, and nearly five thousand 
muskets. The regular troops in General Gates'S( 
army were nine thousand; the militia, four thousand: 
but, of the former, two thousand were sick or on 
furlough ; and of the latter, five hundred. 

" The celebrated Polish pa trio., Kosciuski, was 
chief engineer in the army of General Gates. 

" On learning the fate of Burgoyne, the British on 
the North river retired to New York. Those who 
had been left in his rear destroyed their cannon, 
and, abandoning Ticonderoga, retreated to Canada ; 
so that this whole country, after experiencing for 
several months the devastations of war, was now 
restored to perfect tranquility. 

* GrimskavPs Hist. U. S, 



(70.) Treaty with France. 

On the 16th of March, 1 778, Lord North intima- 
ted to the House of Commons, that a paper had been 
laid before the King by I he French ambassador, in- 
timating the conclusion of an alliance between the 
court of France and the United States of Anierica. 
The preliminaries of this- treaty had been concluded 
in the end of the year 1777, and a copy of them 
sent to Congress, in order to counteract any pro- 
posals that might be made in the mean time by the 
British ministry. On the 6th of February, 1 778, the 
articles wf re formally signed, to the great satisfac- 
tion of tht French nation. They were in substance 
as follows : 

1. If Great Britain should, in consequence of this 
12 



130 



treaty, proceed to hostilities against France, the two 
nations should mutually assist one another. 

2. The main end of the treaty was, in an effectual 
ma^nner to maintain the Independence of America. 

3 Should those places of North-America still sub« 
ject'to Britain, be reduced by the States, they should 
be confederated with them, or subjected to their ju- 
risdiction. , ,. T 1 11 J 

4. Should any of the West-India Islands be redu- 
ced by France, they should be deemed its property. 

5. No formal treaty with Great Britain should be 
concluded, either by France or America, without the 
consent of each other ; and it was mutually agreed, 
that they should not lay down their arms till the In- 
dependence of the States had been formally acknow- 
ledged. J 

6. The contracting parties mutually agreed, to 
jnvite those powers that had received injuries from 
Great Britain, to join in the common cause. 

7. The United States guaranteed to France ail 
the possessions in the West-Indies which she should 
conquer ; and France, in her turn, guaranteed the 
absolute Independence of the States, and their su- 
preme authority over every country they possessed, 
or might acquire during the war.* 

This treaty was signed, on the part of France, by 
M. Gerard ; on the part of the United States, by 
Benjamin Franldin, Silas Deane, and Arthur Lee. 
On the 20th of March, the American commissioners 
were received at the court of France, as the repre- 
sentatives of a sister nation ; an event which was 
considered in Europe at that time, as the most im- 
portant which had occurred in the annals of America, 
since its first discovery by Columbus. 

* Williams' Revolution. 



131 



(71.) Battle of Monmouth or Freehold, 

At the opening of the campaign in 1778, General 
Howe went to England, and left the command to Sir 
Henry Chnton. in June the British army left Phil- 
adelphia, and marched towards Staten Island. In 
their march they were annoyed by the Americans, 
andim the 28th of June, a division of the army, under 
General Lee, was ordered, if possible, to bring therai 
to an engagement. The order was not obeyed — 
General Washington arrived, and riding up to Gene- 
ral Lee, addressed him in terms that implied cen- 
sure. General Lee answered with warmth and dis- 
respectful Imguage. General Washington led the 
troops in person, and a smart action took place, in 
which both parties claimed the victory, but the ad- 
vantage was clearly on the side of the Americans. 
The loss in killed and wounded amounted to three 
or four hundred, on each side ; but the British left 
the field of battle in the night and pursued their re- 
treat. This battle happened at Freehold, in Mon- 
mouth county, during a period of extreme heat, the 
mercury being above ninety degrees by Fahrenheit's 
scale. Many of the soldiers died on the spot, by 
heat, fatigue, or drinking cold water. General Lee 
was tried by a court martial for disobedience, and 
his command suspended for one year. 

Webster^s Elements of U» Knowledge, . 



{T2.) Taking of Savannah and Charleston, 

In 1778, Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, an oiBcer 
©f courage and ability, embarked on the twenty- 
seventh of November from New -York for Savan- 
nah, with about two thousand men, under the con- 



132 

voy of same ships of war, commanded by Commodore 
Hyde Parker ; and in about three weeks landed near 
the mouth of Savannah river. From the landing 
place, a narrow causeway of six hundred yards ii4 
length, with a ditch on each side, led through a 
swamp. At this causeway a small party was posted^ 
under Captain Smith, to impede the passage of the 
British ; but it was almost instantly dispersed. 
General Howe, the American officer, to whom the 
defence of Georgia was committed, had taken his 
station on the main road, and posted his little army, 
consisting of about six hundred continentals and a 
few hundred militia, between the landing place and 
the town of Savannah, with the river on his left, and 
a morass in front. While Colonel Campbell was 
making arrangements to dislodge his adversaries, he 
received intelligence from a negro, of a private path, 
on the right of the Americans, through which his 
troops might march unobserved ; and Sir James 
Baird, with the light infantry, was directed to avail 
himself of this path, in order to turn their right wing, 
and attack their rear. As soon as it was judged that 
he had cleared his passage, the British, in front of 
the Americans, were directed to advance and en- 
gage. General Howe, finding himself attacked both 
in front and rear, ordered an immediate retreat. 
The British pursued, and their victory was entire. 
Upwards of one hundred of the Americans were kill- 
ed ; and thirty-eight officers, four hundred and fif- 
teen privates, the town and fort of Savannah, forty- 
eight pieces of cannon, twenty-three mortars, the 
fort with its ammunition and stores, the shipping in 
the river, and a large quantity of provisions, were in 
a few hours in possession of the conquerors. The 
whole loss of the British, during the day, amounted 
te no more than seven killed and nineteen wounded. 
Holmes'' American Annals ^ 



1^3 

Sir Henry Clinton, finding it more easy to make 
an impression on the southern States, which were 
less populous than the northern, and being a level 
country, rendered the transportation of artillery less 
difficuh, determined to make them the seat of war. 
Agreeable to this resolution, he sailed from New- 
York, with a large force, in the severe winter of 
1779 — 80; and after a tempestuous passage, in 
which he lost some of his transports, arrived at Sa- 
vannah the latter part of January. From Savannnh 
the army proceeded to Charleston, and in April laid 
siege to that city. The enemy made regular ap- 
proaches, and finally being prepared to storm the 
town, General Lincoln was compelled to capitulate. 
About two thousand five hundred men, besides the 
militia and inhabitants, became prisoners, and all 
the cannon and military stores. This happened on 
the 12th o- May, 1780. General Clinton left Lord 
Cornwallis to coDjmand the troops in the southern 
army, and returned to New- York. Great numbers 
of the people in South-Carolina, being left delence- 
less, returned to their allegiance, and the British 
commander represented the state as subdued. 

Webster^s Elements of U. Knowledge, 



(73.) FaulJones* Naval Battle. 

On the 22d of September, 1778, occurred on the 
coast of Scotland, "that unexampled sea-fight, which 
gave to the name of Paul Jones such terrific eclat. 
This man was a native of Scotland, but engaged in 
the service of the United States. His flotilla was 
composed of the Bon-homme Richard, of forty guns, 
the Alliance, of thirty-six, (both American ships,) 
the Pallasj a French frigate of thirty-two. in the pay 
12* 



134 

of Congress^ and two other smaller vessels. He 
fell in with a British merchant fleet, on its return 
from the Baltic, convoyed by Captain Pearson, with 
the frigate Sera pis, of forty-four guns, and the 
Countess of Scarborough, of twenty. 

Pearson had no sooner perceived Jones, than he 
bore down to engage him, while the merchantmen 
endeavored to gain the coast. The American flo- 
tilla formed to receive him. The two enemies 
joined battle about seven in the evening. The 
British having the advantage of cannon of a longer 
reach, Paul Jones resolved to fight them closer. He 
brought up his ships, until the muzzles of his guns 
came in contact with those of his enemy. Here the 
phrcnzied combatants fought from seven till ten. 
Paul Jones now found that his vessel was so shat« 
tered, that only three effective guns remained » 
Trusting no longer to these, he assailed his enemy 
with grenades ; which, falling into the Serapis, set 
her on fire in several places. At length her maga- 
zine blew up and killed all near it. Pearson, enra- 
ged at his officers, who wished him to surrender^ 
commanded them to board. Paul Jones at the 
head of his crew, received them at the point of the 
pike ; and they retreated. But the flames of the 
Serapis had communicated to her enemy, and the 
vessel of Jones was on fire. Amidst this tremen- 
dous night-scene, the American frigate Alliance 
came up, and mistaking her partner for her enemy, 
fii-ed a broad-side into the vessel of Jones. By the 
broad glare of the burning ships she discovered her 
mistake, and turned her guns against her exhausted 
foe. Pearson's crew were killed or wounded, {jis 
artillery dismounted, and his vessel on fire ; and he 
could no longer resist. The flames of the Serapis- 
wcre however arrested : but the leaks of the Good- 



135 

man Richard could not be stopped, and the hulk 
went down soon after the mangled remains of the 
crew had been removed. Of the 375 who were on 
board that renowned vessel, only sixty-eight left it 
alive. The Pallas had captured the Countess of 
Scarborough ; and Jones, after this horrible victory, 
■wandered with his shattered, unmanageable vessels 
for some time ; and at length, on the 6th of October, 
had the good fortune to find his way to the waters 
of the TexeV—Willard's Hist. U. States. 



(74.) Gen, Putnam'' s Escape at Horseneck, 

About the middle of the winter of 1778, General 
Putnam, a bold and veteran officer, was on a visit to 
his outpost at Horseneck, where he found Tryon, 
the British Governor, advancing upon that place with 
a corps of fifteen hundred men. To oppose this 
force General Putnam had only a force of one hun- 
dred and fifty men, with two iron field pieces, with- 
out horses or drag-ropes. Having planted his can- 
non on an eminence, he fired until the enemy's horse 
(supported by infantry) were about lo charge ; he 
then ordered his men to shelter themselves in a 
neighboring swamp inaccessible to the enemy's 
cavalry — and putting spurs to his horse, he plunged 
down a precipice so steep that about one hundred 
stone steps or stairs had been constructed for the 
accommodation of foot passengers. The British 
dragoons, who were but a sword's length from him, 
not daring to follow, stopped, and before they could 
gain the vall^^y, Putnam was far beyond their reach. 

Gen. Putnam was much disting-uished, both in the FrencU 
and Revolutionary wars, for his bravery and a spirit of daring 
eaterprise. He also rendered himself famous by a noted ex- 



t3« 

ploiE in a wolf's den. When he removed to Pomfrct, Con, 
that part of the country was much infested with wolves. Iq 
his immediate vicinity a she-wolf committed considerable de- 
predations for several years. After many unsuccessful at- 
tempts were made to destroy this ferocious animal, Putnam 
and his neighbors tracked her to her den, and endeavored 
by fire and smoke, dog-s, &c. to expel her from her habitation. 
These means proving ineffectual, Putnam at leng-th came to 
the hazardous resolution of attacking the wolf in her den. 
With a torch in one hand and his gun in the other, he crawl- 
ed a considerable distance into a subterraneous cavity, and 
discovered the wolf by the glare of her eye-balls, evidently at 
the point of springing at him. Putnam fired : upon this he 
was drawn out of the cave by his neighbors, by means of a 
rope he had attached to one of his legs Putnam again de- 
scended, and finding the wolf dead, took hold of her eacs, and 
the people above, with much exultation, dragged them out 
together. 



(75.) Storming of Stoney Point, 

The reduction of this place, July 15., 1779, was 
one of the most bold enterprises which occurred in 
the Revolutionary war. (Stoney point is 40 miles 
north of New- York, on the Hudson.) 

" At this time Stoney Point was in the condition 
of a real fortress ; it was furnished with a select gar- 
rison ef more than 600 men, and had stores in 
abundance, and defensive preparations which were 
formidable. Fortified- as it was^ Gen. Washington 
ventured an attempt to reduce it. The enterprise 
was committed to Gen^ Wayne, who, with a strong 
detachment of active infantry, set out towards the 
place at noon. His march of fourteen miles over 
high mountains, through, deep morasses, and difficult 
defiles, was accomplished by eight o'clock in the- 
Evening. 

At the distance of a mile from the point, Gen<v 



137 

Wayne halted and formed his men into two col- 
umns, putting himself at the head of the right. 
Both columns were directed to march in order and 
silence, with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. 
At midnight they arrived under the walls of the 

fort."* ^ . ,r 

" An unexpected obstacle now presented itselt : 
the deep morass which covered the works, was at 
this time overflowed by the tide. The English 
opened a tremendous fire of musketry and of cannon 
loaded wnth grape shot : but neither the inundated 
morass, nor a double palisade, nor the storm of fire 
that poured upon them, could arrest the impetuosity 
of the Americans ; they opened their way witn the 
bayonet, prostrated whatever opposed them, scaled 
the fort, and the two columns met in the centre of 
the works. The English lost upwards of 600 men 
in killed and prisoners. The conquerors abstained 
from pillage, and from all disorder ; a conduct the 
more worthy as they had still present in mind, the 
ravages and butcheries which their enemies had so 
recendy committed, in Virginia and Connecticut. 
Humanity imparted new effulgence to the victory 
which valor had attained."! 



(76.) Battle of Camden, 

On the 16th of August, 1780, Earl Cornwallis, 
who commanded the British troops, obtained a sig- 
nal victory over the Americans under Gen. Gates, 
at Camden. " The action began at break of day, 
in a situation very advantageous for the British 
troops, but very unfavorable to the Americans. 

* Goodrich's United States. j Botta's Revolution. 



The latter tvere much more numerous ; but th6 
ground on which both armies stood was narrowed 
by swamps on the right and left, so that the Ameri- 
cans could not avail themselves properly of their 
superior numbers. 

There seems to have been some want of general- 
ship on the part of Gates, in suffering himself to be 
surprized in so disadvantageous a position. But 
this circumstance was the effect of accident ; for 
both armies set out with a design of attacking each 
other, precisely at the same time, at ten o'clock the 
preceding evening, and met together before day- 
light, at the place where the action happened. 

The attack was made by the British troops, with 
great vigor, and in a few minutes the action was 
general along the whole line. It was at this time a 
dead calm, with a little haziness in the air, which 
prevented the smoke from rising, and occasioned so 
thick a darkness that it was difficult to see the effect 
of a heavy and well-supported fire on both sides. 
Th • British troops either kept up a constant fire, or 
made use of bayonets, as opportunities offered ; and 
after an obstinate resistance of three quarters of an 
hour, threw the Americans into total confusion, and 
forced them to give way in all quarters. 

The continental troops behaved remarkably well, 
but the militia were soon broken, leaving the former 
to oppose the whole force of the British troops. 
Gen. Gates did all in his power to rally the militia, 
but without effect : the continentals retreated in 
some order ; but the rout of the militia was so great, 
that the British cavalry continued the pursuit of 
them to the distance of twenly-two miles from the 
place of action. 

The loss of the Americans, on this occasion, was 
very considerable ; about one thousand prisoners 



139 

were taken, and more than that number were said 
to have been killed and wounded, although the 
number was not very accurately ascerlained. 
Seven pieces of brass cannon, various stands of 
colors, and all the ammunition waggons of the Ame- 
ricans, fell into the hands of the enemy. Amon^ 
the prisoners taken, was Major-General the Baron 
de Kalb, a Prussian officer in the American service, 
who was mortally wounded, after exhibiting great 
gallantry in the course of the action, having received 
eleven wounds. Of the British troops, the number 
of killed and wounded amounted to two hundred 
and thirteen." — Williams^ Hist. Revolution, 



(77.) Murder of Mrs, and Mr. Caldwell, 

In the summer of 1780, the British troops made 
frequent incursions into New Jersey, ravaging and 
plundering the country, and committing numerous 
atrocities upon its inhabitants. — In June, a large 
body of the enemy, commanded by Gen. Kniphau- 
sen, landed at Elizabethtown Point, and proceeded 
into the country. They were much harrassed in 
their progress by Col. Dayton, and the troops under 
his command. When they arrived at Connecticut 
Farms, according to their usual but sacrilegious cus- 
tom, they burnt the Presbyterian church, parsonage 
house, and a considerable part of the village. 
But the most cruel and wanton act that was perpe- 
trated during this incursion, was the murder of Mrs. 
Caldwell, the wife of the Rev. Mr. Caldwell of 
Elizabethtown. 

This amiable woman, seeing the enemy advan- 
cing, retired with her house keeper, a child of three 
years old, an infant of eight months, and a litde 



maid, to a room secured on all sides by stone walls, 
except at a window opposite the enemy. She pru- 
dently took this precaution to avoid the danger of 
transient shot, should the ground be disputed near 
that place, which happened not to be the case ; nei- 
ther was there any firing from either party near the 
house, until the fatal moment, when Mrs. Caldwell, 
unsuspicious of any immediate danger, sitting on 
the bed with her litde child by the hand, and her 
nurse, with her infant babe by her side, was instant- 
ly shot dead by an unfeeling British soldier, who 
bad come round to the unguarded part of the house, 
with an evident design to perpetrate the horrid deed. 
Many circumstances attending this inhuman murder, 
evince, not only that it was committed by the enemy 
with design, but also, that it was by the permission, 
if not by the command, of Gen. Kniphausen, in or- 
der to intimidate the populace to relinquish their 
cause. A circumstance which aggravated this 
piece of cruelty, was, that when the British officers 
were made acquainted with the murder, they did 
not interfere to prevent the corpse from being strip- 
ped and burnt, but left it half the day, stri])ped in 
part, to be tumbled about by the rude soldiery ; and 
at last it was removed from the house, before it 
was burned, by the aid of those w^ho were not of 
the army. 

Mrs. Caldwell was an amiable woman, of a sweet 
and even temper, discreet, prudent, benevolent, soft 
and engaging in her manrers, and beloved hy all 
her acquaintance. Siic left nine promising children. 

Mrs. Caldwell's death was soon followed by that 
of her husband. In November, 1781, Mr. Caldr 
well hearing of the arrival of a young lady at Ei-z- 
abethtown Point, whose family, in New York, h;id 
been peculiarly kind to the American prisoners, 



141 

rode down to escort her up to town. Having re- 
ceived her into his chair, the sentinel observing 
a little bundle tied in the lady's handkerchief, said 
it must be seized for the state. Mr. Caldwell in- 
stantly left the chair, saying he would deliver it to 
^he commanding officer, who was then present ; and 
as he stepped forward with this view, another sol- 
dier impertinently told him to stop, whi€h he imme- 
diately did ; the soldier notwithstanding, without 
further provocation, shot him dead on the spot, 
vSuch was the untimely fate of Mr. Caldwell. His 
public discourses were sensible, animated and per- 
suasive ; his manner of delivery agreeable and pa- 
thetic. He was a very warm patriot, and greatly 
distinguished himself in supporting the cause of his 
-suffering country. As a husband he was kind; as 
a citizen given to hospitality. I'he villain who mur- 
dered him was seized and executed.* 



(78.) Massacre at Wyoming, 

The following account of the devastation of the 
flourishing settlements of Wyoming, in July, 1778, 
and the massacre of its inhabitants by a party of to- 
nes and Indians, under the command of the infamous 
Col, Butler, and Brandt, a half-blooded Indian, is 
thus related by Mrs. Willard, in her History of the 
United Stales. 

*" The devastation of the flourishing settlement of 
Wyoming, by a band of Indians and tories, was 
marked by the most demoniac cruelties. This settle- 
ment consisted of eight towns on the banks of the Sus- 
quehaunah,iand was oneof the most flourishing as well 
as delightful places in America. But even in this 
*Morse. 
13 



142 

peaceful spot, the inhabitants were not exempt from 
the baneful influence of ])arty spirit. Although the 
majority were devoted to the cause of their country^ 
vet the loyalists were numerous. Several persons 
had been arrested as torics, and sent to the proper 
authorities for trial. This excited the indignation of 
their party, and they determined upon revenge. 
They united with the Indians, and resorting to arti- 
fice, pretended a desire to cultivate peace with the 
inhabitants of Wyoming, while they were making 
every preparation for their meditated vengeance. 
The youth at Wyoming were at this time with the 
army, and but 500 men capable of defending the 
settlement remained- The inhabitants had con- 
structed four forts for their security, into which these 
men were distributed. In the month of July, 1600 
Indians and tories, under the command of Butler 
and Brandt, appeared on the banks of the Susque- 
hannah. Two of the forts nearest the frontier imme- 
diately surrendered to them. The savages spared 
the women and children, but butchered the rest of 
dieir prisoners without exception. They then sur- 
rounded Kingston, the principal fort, and to dismay 
the garrison, hurled into the place 200 scalps, still 
reeking with blood. Col. Denison, knowing it to 
be impossible to defend the fort, demanded of But- 
ler what terms would be allowed the garrison if they 
surrendered; he answered, "//te hatchet,'''' They 
attempted further resistance, but were soon compel- 
led to surrender. Enclosing the men, women, and 
children, in houses and barracks, they set fire to 
these, and the miserable wretches were all consumed. 
The fort of Wilksbarre still remained in the pow- 
er of the republicans ; but this garrison, learning 
the fate of the others, surrendered without resis- 
tance, hoping in this way to obtain mercy. But 



143 

Submission could not soften the hearts of these 
unfeeling monsters, and their atrocities were renew- 
ed. They then devastated the country, burnt their 
dwellings, and consigned their crops to the flames. 
The tories appeared to surpass even the sava- 
ges in barbarity. The nearest ties of consanguin- 
ity were disregarded ; and it is asserted, that a 
mother was murdered by the hand of her own son. 
None escaped but a few women and children ; 
and these, dispersed and wandering in the forests, 
without food and without clothes, were not the least 
worthy of commiseration. 



(79.) Distress and Mutiny of the American Army, 

The situation of Gen. Washington was often, du- 
ring the war, embarrassing, for want of proper sup- 
plies for the army. It was peculiarly so, while at 
Morristown, in 1780, where he had encamped du- 
ring the winter. The cold during the winter was 
uncommonly severe, and the army suffered extreme- 
ly. — The following account of the state of the Ameri- 
can army is taken from Grimshaw's History of the 
United States. 

" The distress suffered by the American army did 
not arrive at its highest pitch until the present sea- 
son. The officers of the Jersey line, now address- 
ed a memorial to their state legislature, complaining, 
that four months' pay for a private would not pro- 
cure for his family a single bushel of wheat ; that 
the pay of a colonel would not purchase oats for 
his horse; and that a common laborer received four 
times as much as an American officer. They urged, 
that unless an immediate remedy were provided, the 
iotal dissolution of their line was inevitable •, and 



: 144 

concluded, by saying, that their pay should be re- 
alized, either by Mexican dollars, or something 
equivalent. Nor was the insufficiency of their sup- 
port the only motive to complaint. Other causes 
of discontent prevailed. The original idea of a 
continental army, to be raised, paid, and regulated, 
upon an equal and uniform principle, had been, in 
a great measure, exchanged, for that of state estab- 
lishments ; a pernicious measure, partly originating 
from necessity, because state credit was not (}uite 
so much depreciated as continental. Some states, 
from their superior ability, furnished their troops,, 
not only with clothing, but with many articles of 
convenience. Others supplied them with mere ne- 
cessaries ; whilst a few, from their particular situa- 
tion, could give little or perhaps nothing. The ofli- 
cers and men, in the routine of duty, daily intermix- 
ed and made comparisons. Those who fared worse 
than others, were dissatisfied with a service that al- 
lowed such injurious distinctions. Mutiny began to 
spread, and at length broke out amongst the sol- 
diers at fort Schuyler. Thirty one privates of that 
garrison went olVin a body. They were overtaken, 
and thirteen of their number instantly killed. About 
the same time, two regiments of Connecticut troops 
mutinied, and got under arms ; determined to re- 
turn home, or gain subsistence by the bayonet. 
Their ofticers reasoned with them, and used every 
argument that could interest their passions or their 
pride. They at iirst answered, '" Om- sutlerings are 
too great — we want present relief," But military 
feelings were in the end, triumphant : after much 
expostulation, they returned to the encampment. 

It is natural to suppose, that the British comman- 
der would not lose so favorable an opportunity of 
severing the discontented from their companions, 



145 

nnd attracting them to his own standard, lie circu- 
lated a printed pajjcr in the American camp; tend- 
ing to heighten the disorder by exaggeration, and cre- 
ate desertion by promises of bounty and caresses. 
But, so great was the firmness of the soldiery, and 
so strong their attachment to their country, that^ on 
the arrival of only a scanty supply of meat, for their 
immediate subsistence, mihtary duty was cheerfully 
performed, and the rolls were seldom dishonored by 
desertion. 

The necessities of the American army grew so 
pressing, that Washington was constrained to call 
on the magistrates of the adjacent counties for spe- 
cified quantities of provisions to be supplied in a 
given number of days ; and was compelled even to 
send out detachments, to coHect subsistence at the 
])oint of the bayonet. Even this expedient at length 
i'liiled ; the country in the vicinity of the army, being 
soon exhausted. His situation was painfully em- 
bari-assing. The army looked to him for provisions ; 
the inhabitants for protection. To supply the one, 
oikI not offend the other, seemed impossible. To 
preserve order and subordination, in an army of re- 
publicans, even when well fed, regularly paid, and 
comfortably clothed, is not an easy task ; but to re- 
lain them in service, and subject them to the rules of 
discipline, when wanting^ not only the comforts, but 
often the necessaries, of life, require such address 
and abilities, as are rarely found in human nature. 
These were, however, combined in Washington. 
He not only kept his army in the field, but opposed 
those diiriculties with so much discretion, as to com- 
mand the approbation of both. soldiers and people. 

To obviate these evils. Congress sent a commit- 
tee of its own members to the encamjjment of the 
main army. They confirmed the representations- 
13* 



146 

previously made, of the distresses, and the disorders 
arising from commissarial mismanagement, which 
every where prevailed. In particuhir, they stated, 
that the army was unpaid for five months ; that it 
seldom had more than six days' provision in ad- 
vance ; and was on different occasions, for several 
successive days, without meat ; that the hors^es were 
destitute of forage ; that the medical department 
had no sugar, tea, chocolate, wine, nor spiritous 
liquors of any kind ; that every department was 
without money, and without credit; and that the 
patience of the soldiers, worn down by the pres- 
sure of complicated sufferings, was on the point of 
being exhausted. 

Misfortunes, from every quarter, were, at this 
time, pouring in upon the United States. But they 
seemed to rise in the midst of their distresses, and 
gain strength from the pressure of calamities. 
When Congress coutd obtain neither money nor 
credit for the subsistence of their army, the inhabit- 
ants of Philadelphia gave three hundred thousand 
dollars, to procure a sup):)ly of necessary provHs- 
ions for the suflering troops : and the ladies of that 
city, at the same time, contributed largely to their 
immediate relief. Their example was generally 
followed. The patriotic flame, which blazed forth 
in the beginning of the war, was rekindled. The 
tjiiferent states were ardently excited ; and it was 
arranged, that the regular army should be raised ta 
thirty five thousancl effective men,'' 



(80.) Capture of Andre, and Treason of Arnold"^ 

In the year 1780, a plot fraught with much dan^ 
^r lo the American cause w?is happily discoveredc^ 



147 

This plot originated with Arnold, a General in the 
American army, who by his extravagance and over- 
bearing behavior, had brought upon himself a rep- 
rimand from the American Congress. Of a temper 
too impetuous to bear reproof, Arnold, bent on re- 
venge, entered into a negotiation through Major 
John Andre, Adjutant General in the British army, 
to deliver up to the enemy the important post of 
West Point, of which Arnold had the command. 

Andre proceeded in disguise to West Point, drew 
a plan of the fortress, concerted wilh Arnold, and 
agreed upon the manner and time of attack. Hav- 
ing obtained a passport, and assumed the name 
of Anderson, Andre set out on his return to New- 
York by land. He passed the outposts of the 
American army without suspicion. Supposing him- 
self now out of danger, he pressed forward, elated 
with the prospect of the speedy execution of a plot 
which was to give the finishing blow to liberty in 
America. 

But, mark the hand of Providence, — about thirty 
miles from New York, as Andre was entering a vil- 
lage called Tarrytown, three militia men, who hap- 
pened that way, John Paulding, David Williams, 
and Isaac VanWert, seized the bridle of his horse, 
pnd accosted him with '• Where are you bound ?" 
Andre supposing that they were of the British, did 
not immediately show his passport, but waving 
their question, asked them, ^' where they belonged 
^0.^" they replied " fo belom^'^^ (referring to the 
course of the river, and implying that they were of 
the British party.) ''''And so do /," said Andre» 
(confirmed in his mistake by this stratagem,) at the 
same time informed them that he was a British offi- 
cer, on urgent business, and must not be detained, 
*' You belong to our enemies^'^^ exclaimed the milititi, 



14$ 

men, " and zpe arrest you?"^ Andre, struck with as- 
tonishment, presented his passport^ but this, after 
what had passed, only rendered his case the more 
suspicious. He dien offered them a purse of gold, 
his horse and watch, besides a large reward from 
the British government, if they would but liberate 
him. But these soldiers, though poor and obscure, 
were not to be bribed. They searched hun and 
found concealed in his boot, papers which evidenced 
his guilt, and they immediately conducted hmi to 
Col. Jameson, their commanding officer. 

Andre was tried by a board of general officers of 
the American army, and executed as a spy, at Tap- 
pan, N. Y. October 2. He was a young officer, 
high minded, brave, accomphshed and humane. 
J^e suffered with fortitude, and his fate excited the 
universal sympathy of all parties.* 

* Major Andre liad man} friends in the American army, 
and even Washington would have spared him, had duty (o 
his country permitted. Every possible effort was made by 
Sir Henry Chnton in his favor, but it was deemed important 
that the decision of the board of war should be carried into 
execution. 

When Major Andre was apprized of the sentence of death, 
he made a last appeal in a letter to Washing-ton, that he might 
be shot rather than die on a gibbet. 

The letter of Andre roused the sympathies of Washing- 
ton, and had he only been concerned, the prisoner would 
have been pardoned and released. But the interests of his 
country were at stake, and the sternness of justice demanded 
that private feelings should be sacrificed. 

Upon consulting his officers oa the propriety of listening* 
to Major Andre's request, to receive the death of a soldier, 
(to be shot,) it was deemed necessary to deny it, and to make 
him an example. 

As a reward to Paulding, Williams, and VanWert, for 
their virtuous and patriotic conduct, Congress voted to each 
of them an annuity of $200, and a silver medal, on one side 
of which, was a shield with this inscription—*' fidelity,"— 



140 
(81.) Battle of the Cowpens. 

In the autumn of 1780, Gen. Greene was ap 
pointed to the command of the American forces in 
Carolina. He was accompanied by Colonel Mor- 
gan, a brave and active officer, who commanded a 
body of riflemen. 

On the entrance of Morgan into the district of 
Ninety Six, Lord Cornwallis detached Lieut. CoL 
Tarleton to drive him from this station, and to '^pusk 
him to the utmost,''^ Tarleton's force consisted of 
about 1000 choice infantry, and 250 horse, with 
two field pieces. To oppose this force, Morgan 
had but 500 militia, 300 regulars and 75 horse, 
under the command of Col. Washington. The two 
detachments met on the 17thof Jan. 1781, at the Cow- 
pens. The ground on which this memorable 
battle was fought, was an open pine barren. The 
militia were drawn up about 280 yards in front of 
the regulars, and the horse some small distance in 
the rear. Just after day break, the British came 
in sight ; and halting within about a quarter of a mile 
of the militia, began to prepare for biUtle. The 
sun had just risen, as the enemy, with loud shouts^ 
advanced to the charge. The militia, hardly wait- 
ing to give them a distant fire, broke, and fled for 

and on the other, the following motto, [''^ vincit amor pair ice y^) 
— the love of country conquers. 

Arnold, the miserable wretch, whose machinations led to 
the melancholy fate Andre experienced, escaped to New 
York, where, as the price of his dishonor, he received the 
commission of Brigadier General, and the sum of ten thoU" 
sand pounds sterling! 

This last boon was the grand secret of Arnold's fall from 
virtue ; his vanity and extravagance had led him into expen- 
ses which it was neither in the power nor will of (^ongress 
to support. He had involved himself in debt, from which he 
saw no hope of extricating himself: and his honor, thereforcj 
was bartered for British ^old.— Goo(Znc/tV Hist, U, S, 



160 

iheir horses, which were tied at sOftie distance- 
Tarleton's cavalry pushed hard after them, and 
€omingupjust as they reached their horses, began 
to cut them down. On seeing this, Col. Washing- 
ton with his cavalry, dashed on to their rescue. As 
if certain of victory, Tarleton's men were all scat- 
tered in the chase. Washington's men, on the con- 
trary, advanced closely and compactly, and gave 
the British cavalry such a fatal charge, that they 
fled in the utmost precipitation. The British infant- 
ry now came up ; and, having crossed a little valley, 
just as they ascended the hill, they found themselves 
within twenty paces of the regular Americans, un- 
der Col. Howard, who at this moment poured upon 
them a general and deadly fire. This threw them 
into confusion. The militia seeing this change in 
the battle, recovered their spirits, and began to 
form on the right of the regulars. Morgan, waving 
his sword, instantly rode up, exclaiming with a 
loud voice, " Hurrah ! my brave fellows ! form, 
form ! old Morgan toas never beat in his life ! — one 
fire more, my heroes, and the day is our own .'*' 
With answering shouts, both regulars and militia 
then advanced upon the enemy ; and following theiy 
fire with the bayonet, instantly decided the con- 
flict,* 

The British lost in this engagement, upwards of 
300 killed and wounded, and more than 500 prison- 
ers. The loss of the Americans was but 12 killed 
and 60 wounded. 



(82.) Battle of Guilford, 

After the disaster at the the Cowpens, Lord 
Cornwallis determined to intercept Col. Morgan, and 
*Weenis' Life of Washington. 



151 

retake the prisoners ; but a heavy rain in the nighty 
swelled the rivers so as to prevent his design. To 
enable his troops to march with more celerity, he 
destroyed all his heavy baggage. At length Gen- 
eral Greene joined Col. Morgan, with additional for- 
ces, and Lord Cornwallis, having collected his 
troops, the armies met near the court-house in Guil- 
ford. The action was fought on the 15th of March, 
1781. The Americans amounted to between 4 and 
5000 men, but mostly militia, or inexperienced sol- 
diers. The British force consisted of about half 
that number of veterans.* The Americans were 
drawn up in three lines. The front was composed 
of North Carolina militia, commanded by Gene- 
rals Butler and Eaton ; the second, of Virginia mi- 
litia, commanded by Stephens and Lawson ; the 
third of continental troops, commanded by Gene- 
ral Huger and Colonel Williams. The British, af- 
ter a brisk cannonade in front, advanced in three 
columns, the Hessians on the right, the guards in 
the centre, and Lieutenant Colonel Webster's brig- 
ade on the left ; and attacked the front line. The 
militia composing this line, through the misconduct 
of an officer in giving occasion to a false alarm, pre- 
cipitately quitted the field. The Virginia militia 
stood their ground, and kept up their fire, until 
they were ordered to retreat. The continental 
troops were last engaged, and maintained the con- 
flict with great spirit an hour and a half; but were 
then forced to give way before their veteran adver- 
saries. The British broke the second Maryland 
brigade ; turned the American left flank ; and got 
in the rear of the Virginia brigade. On their ap- 
pearing to be gaining Greene's right, and thus 
threatening to encircle the whole of the continental 
*Web8ter. 



i6i 

troops, a retreat was ordered, which was well 
■conducted.* The battle was fought with great bra- 
very and eflect ; for althousjh Lord CornwaHis 
remained master of the field, his losses, in a coun- 
try where he could not recruit his army, had the 
effect of a defeat. His loss was more than five 
hundred men. That of the Americans was about 
four hundred in killed and wounded, of which more 
than three fourths were continentals. 



(83.) Battle of Eutaw Springs* 

On the 9th of September, 1781, Gen. Greene. 
having assembled about two thousand men, pro- 
ceeded to attack the British, who, under the com- 
mand of Col. Stewart, were posted at Eutaw Springs. 
The American force was drawii up in two lines : the 
first, composed of Carolina miliiia, was commanded 
by Generals Marion and Pickens, and Col. De Mal- 
medy. The second, which consisted of continental 
troops from North-Carolino, Virginia, and Maryland, 
"was commanded by Gen. Sumpter, Lieut. Col. 
Campbell, and Col. Williams — Lieut. Col. Lee^ 
with his legion, covered the right dank ; and Lieut. 
Col. Henderson, with the state trooj>3, covered the 
left. A corps de reserve was formed of the cavalry, 
under Lieut. Col. Washington, and 'he De'-nvare- 
troops, under Capt, Kirk wood. As the Americans 
came forward to the attack, they fell in with some 
advanced parties of the enemy, at about two or 
three miles ahead of the main body. These being 
closely pursued were driven back — and the of tion 
soon became general. The militia were at length 
forced to give way, but were bravely supporten by 
the second line. In the hottest part of the engage- 

* Holmes' Annals. 



153 

ment, Gen. drccne ordered the Maryland and Vir- 
jrjnia continentals to charge with trailed arms. 
This decided the fate of the day. ' i^othing,' says 
Dr. Ramsay, ' could surpass the intrepidity of both 
officers and men on this occasion. They rushed on, 
in good order, through a heavy cannonade, and a 
shower of musketry, with such unshaken resolution, 
that they bore down all before them.' The British 
were broken, closely pursued, and upwards of five 
hundred of them taken prisoners. They however 
made a fresh stand, in a favorable position, in im- 
penetrable shrubs and a picquetted garden. Lieut. 
Col. Washington, after having made every eftbrt to 
dislodge them, was wounded and taken prisoner. 
Four six pounders were brought forward to play 
upon them, but they fell into their hands; and the 
endeavors to drive them from their station being 
found impracticable, the Americans retired, leaving 
a strong picquet on the field of battle. Their loss 
was about five hundred ; that of the British up- 
wards of eleven hundred. 

Gen. Greene was honored by Congress with a 
British standard, and a gold medal, emblematic of 
the engagement and success, ' for his wise, decisive 
and magnanimous conduct, in the action of Eutaw 
Springs, in which, with a force inferior in number to 
that of the enemy, he obtained a most signal vic- 
tory.' 

In the evening of the succeeding day, Col. Slew- 
art abandoned his post, and retreated towards 
Charleston, leaving behind upwards of seventy of 
his wounded, and a thousand stands of arras. He 
was pursued a considerable distance — but in vain. 

The batde of Eutaw produced most signal conse- 
quences in favor of America. The British, who 
had for such a length of time, lorded it absolutely in 
14 



154 

Soiuh Carolina, were, shortly after that event, obli- 
ged to confine themselves to Charleston. J 

Morsels Revolution^ 



(84.) Storming of Fort Gristvold, 

While the combined armies were advancing to 
the siege of Yorktown, General Arnold, who had 
lately returned from Virginia, was appointed to 
conduct an expedition against New London. The 
iroops employed in this service, were landed on 
each side of the harbor, in two detachments ; the 
one commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Eyre, and 
the other by General Arnold. New London is 
a seaport town, situaled near the mouth of the 
Thames, on the west side of that river. For the 
defence of the place, therei had been constructed, 
below the town, and on the western side of the 
harbor, a fort, called Fort Trumbull, with a re- 
doubt; and opposite to it, on Groton Hill, another 
fort, called Fort Griswold, a strong square fortifi- 
cation, insufficiently garrisoned. Fort Trumbull, 
the redoubt, and the town of New London, being 
totally untenable, were evacuated on the approach 
of Arnold, who took possession of them with in- 
considerable loss. Fort Griswold was defended by 
Colonel Ledyard, with a garrison of about one 
hundred and sixty men, some of w.hom had just 
evacuated the works on the opposite side of the 
river. On the rejection of a summons to surrender, 
the British marched up to the assault on three sides ; 
and, though the ascent was steep, and a continued 
fire was directed against them, they at length made 
a lodgement on the ditch and fraized work,' and en- 
tered the embrasures with charged bayonets. An 



155 



officer of the conquering U-oops, ^^ ^-^J^ 
into his own bosom, .^^^"f '..fe^^^^^ con- 

":roi ^tt A^lcSr: i^ss ,..f^, 

Th h '' wasicpt up until the greater, part^otl^e 
garrison was killed or ^vounded." H c own o^ 
^T T ^r^Ar^r^ ^n(\ the Stores contained in u, ^^y^ 
^Tn^rfo^shes- and General Arnold, havn.g 
i , le'ed th" ohj'eet of the expedition, returned 
in eight days to New York.-Ho/mc.' Annals. 

(85.) Surrender of Cornwallis. 
The 19th of October, 1781, was rendered mc- 
hl. hv the surrender of the British army, con- 
"'°, of 7000 men under Cornwallis, atYorlUown, 
Va'"S- ilTy""'— ' ^-•"'^') '''' KevoluUonary 
\„'.rst and laul the foundation for a general peace. 
Abou .'he las of August, Count de Grasse w,th a 
F,^ eh fleet, arrived tn the Chesapeake and block- 
ed up the British troops who had fortified themselves 

" Eour "; this, the American and French troops, 
„n k r Ge",eral Washington, had moved to the sou h- 
" ad and as soon as°he heard of the arrival of a 
French fleet, made rapid marches to the head of 
F k riv r, where embarking, the troops soon arri- 
ved at Yorktown. A close siege was now commen- 
lod and earned on with such ardor and delermm- 
ai by Tile A>nerican and French troops, that 
Cornwallis was forced to surrender. 



Idd 



The spectacle of the surrender was impressive 
and airect.ng. The road through which the cp! 
t,ve army marched was hned with spectators. On 
st.ffM \^r"''' Washmgton, with the American 
stafl took then- station; on the opposite side, was 
the Count de Rocha.nbeau, with the French staff. 

1 he captive army approached, moving slowly 
in columns, wuh grace and precision. Universal 
silence was observed amidst the vast concourse, and 
the utmost decency prevailed; cxhibitinrr, in de- 
meanor, an awful sense of the vicissitude of human 
/lie, mingled with commiseration for the unhappv '^ 
Lord Cornwallis, unable to endure the humilia- 
tion of mnrch.ng at the head of his troops, apjxjint- 
ed General O'Hara his representative, who deliver- 
Gd up the sword of Cornwalhs to the American Com- 
mander in Chief. 



(86.) Washington taking have of the Army, 
The storm of the revolution having subsided, the 
Uehnitive treaty was signed on the 30th of Septem- 
ber 1783, and the 3d of November was fixed on 
')y Congress, lor disbanding the United States' Ar- 
my. On the day preceding. General Washington 
gave an allectionate farewell to the soldiers, who 
cluring '^ the tunc thai tried men's souls,'' had foudit 
by his side. - Being now," he said in his addrtss 
to the army, " to conclude these, my last public or- 
(iei;s, to take my ultimate leave in a short time of the 
military character, and to bid a final adieu to the 



ai:mies 1 have so long had the honor to command, I 
can only again offer in your behalf, my recommend- 
ations to our grateful country, and my prayer to the 
God ©f armies.~-31ay ample justice be done vou 



157 



here, and may the choicest favors bo h here and 
creafter, attend those, who nndor the d,v,no ausp.- 
ce 'have secured .nnumerable blessmgs for others ! 
Wilh these wishes and this benediction, the com- 
mander in chief is about to retire fro'n.^^^y'^'^- ,\he 
curtain of separation w.li soon be d awn, and the 
raihlary scene will be closed forever. 

The^officers of the army assembled at Now York. 
Washington was there also, and f Parting, thus 
addressfd them : " Wuh a heart full of lovo and 
gratitude, I now take my leave of you I"^"^! de- 
voutly wish, that your latter days may be as p.os- 
IcroL and happ/, as your former o"<^« l>«ve been 
glorious and honorable." Taking each by the 
Lnd, he bade them farewell. They then accom- 
panied him to the shoreof the Hudson, where he 
was received in a barge, magnificently .lecoraied 

and manned with thirteen ^^=>^='P^=l'"^-,^"tv?s"hl 
his hat, while the tears started from his eyes, he 
bade a silent adieu to the companions of his glory. 



(87.) Continental Money, 
The expedient of supplying the deficiencies of 
specie, by emissions of paper bills, was adopted 
Try early in the Colonies. In many instances, 
Remissions produced good effects These bills 
were generally a legal tender, in all colonial or 
privati contracts, and the sums issued did not gene- 
?ally exceed the granted requisite lor a medium of 
trade ■ they retained their full nominal value in the 
purchase ot commodities. . But as they were notre-. 
reived by the British merchants, in payment for 
their goods, there was a great demand lor specie 
lnd blls, which occasioned the latter, at various- 
14* 



15^ 



times, to depreciate. Thus was introduced a difi 
fereace between the Enghsh sterling money, and the 
currenaes of the different States, which remains 
to this day.* 

The advantages the Colonies had derived from 
paper currency, under the British government sug- 
gested to Congress, in 1775, the idea of issuing 
bills, for the purpose of carrying on the war. And 
this, perhaps, was their only expedient. They 
Gould not raise money by taxation, and it could not 
be borrowed. The first emissions had no other ef- 
fect upon the medium of commerce, than to drive 
the specie from circulation. But when the paper 
substituted for specie, had, by repeated emissions, 
augmented the sum in circulation, much beyond the 
usual sum in specie, the bills began to lose their 
value. The depreciation continued, in proportion 
to the sums emitted, until one hundred paper dol- 
iars, were hardly an equivalent for one Spanish m\U 
ied dollar. With this depreciated paper was the 
army paid,— and from 1775 to 1781, this currency 
was almost the only medium of trade; until the sum 
ni circulation amounted to two hundred milhons of 
dollars. But about the year 1780, specie began ta 
fee plentiful, being introduced by the French army, 
a private trade with the Spanish islands, and an ii 
hcit mtercourse with the British garrison in New 
York. This circumstance accelerated the depreci- 
ation of the paper bills, until their value had sunk 
*A dollar in sterling money, is 4s. 6d. But the price of a 
dollar rose, in Neir England currency to 6*.; in JSew York, 
to 3s.; m New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland, to 7*. 
«tf. ; m Virginia, to 6s.; in North C^arolinia, to 8*.; in South 
Carolina and Georgia, to 4s. Bd, This difference, originating 
between paper and specie, or bills, continued after^ 
Tpards to exist m the nominal estimation of gold and silver. 
FranklinU JUiscelianeous fForf^l 



\B9 

to aknosl nothing. In 1781, the merchants and 
brokers of the southern States, apprehensive ot 
the approaching fate of the currency, pushed im- 
mense quantities of it suddenly into New England- 
made vast purchases of goods in Boston— and in- 
stantly the bills vanished from circulation. 

The whole history of this Continental paper, is a 
history of public and private frauds. Old specie 
debts were often paid in a depreciated currency — 
and even new contracts, for a few weeks or days, 
were often discharged with a small part of the val- 
ue received. From this plenty, and the fluctuating 
state of the medium, sprang hosts of speculators^ 
and itinerant traders, who left their honest occupa- 
tions for the prospect of immense gains, in a fraud- 
ulent business, that depended on no fixed princi- 
ples, and the profits of which, could be reduced to 
no certain calculations. — Morsels Geography, 1789, 



(88.) Shays*^ Insurrection in Massachusetts^ 

In the year 1786, an insurrection took place iii 
Massachusetts. " A heavy debt lying on the State, 
and almost all the corporations within it; a relaxa- 
tion of manners ; a free use of foreign luxuries ; a 
decay of trade ; with a scarcity of money ; and 
above all, the debts due from individuals to each 
other ; were the primary causes of this sedition. 
Heavy taxes, necessarily imposed at this time, were 
the immediate exoitement to discontent and insur- 
gency."* 

The leader of the malcontents in Massachusetts,, 
was Daniel Shays. At the head of three hun- 
dred men, he. marched to Springfield) where ths 

*HoInae8* Aonalfer 



160 

Supreme Judicial Court was in session, and took 
possession of the couil-house. He then appointed 
a committee, who waited on the Court with an order, 
couched in the humble formof a petition, requesting 
them not to proceed to business ; and both parties re- 
tired. The number of insurgents increased ; the post- 
ure of affairs became alarming; and an army of 4000 
men was at length otdered out for their dispersion. 
This force was placed under the command of Gener- 
al Lincoln. His first measure was to march to Wor- 
cester ; and he afforded such protection to the 
Court at that place, that it resumed and executed 
the judicial functions. Orders were given to Gene- 
ral Shepard, to collect a sufficient force to secure 
the arsenal at Springfield. Accordingly, he raised 
about 900 men, which were reinforced by 300 mili- 
tia from the county of Hampshire. At the head of 
this force, he marched, as directed, to Springfield. 
On\he 25th of January, Shays approached, at the 
head of 1100 men. Shepard sent out one of his 
aids to know the intention of the insurgents, and to 
warn them of their danger. Their answer was, 
that they would have the barracks, and they pro- 
ceeded to within a few hundred yards of the arse- 
nal. They were then informed, that the militia 
were posted there by order of the Governor ; and 
that they would be fired upon, if they approached 
nearer. They continued to advance, when Gene- 
ral Shepard ordered his men to fire, but to direct 
their fire over their heads ; even this did not intimi- 
date them, or retard their movements. The artille- 
ry was then levelled against the centre column, and 
the whole body thrown into confusion. Shays at- 
tempted in vain to rally them. They made a pre- 
cipitate retreat to Ludlow, about ten miles from 
Springfield* Threo men were killed and on?J 



16-1 

wounded. They soon after retreated to Petersham; 
but General Lincoln pursuing their retreat, they 
finally dispersed. 

Some of the fugitvies retired to their homes; but 
many, and among them their principal officers, took 
refuge in the States of New Hampshire, Vermont 
and New York.* 



(89.) Adoption of the Federal Constitution, 

In pursuance of the request of Virginia, most of 
the States appointed delegates, who assembled at 
Annapolis, September 14, 1786. But on examin- 
ing their commissions, it was judged that their pow- 
ers were too limited to enable them to accomplish 
any desirable purpose. They therelore adjourned, 
with instructions to advise the States to appoint 
agents with more ample powers, to meet at Phila- 
delphia, the next year. Accordingly, delegates- 
from the several States, assembled in that city, in 
May 1787, and appointed the venerable Washing- 
ton for their President. That gentleman had reti« 
red to his farm in 1783, with a fixed determination 
never more to engage in public affairs; but he was 
selected by Virginia as one of the delegates, on 
this important occasion, and pressed to accept the 
appointment. After four months deliberation, the 
convention agreed to a frame of government for 
the United States, and recommended it to the seve* 
ral States for adoption. 

The States referred the question of adopting the 
frame of government, to conventions appointed for 
that express purpose. On that occasion, popular 
jealousy appeared in all its force. It was object- 
ed, that the plan of government proposed, abridge 

*Mr6. Willara's liistory U. ^, 



164 

his creatures, was so very important. Under this 
impression, when the Chancellor pronounced, in a 
very feeling manner, ' Long live George Washings 
ton,^ my sensibility was wound up to such a pitch, 
that I could do no more than wave my hat, with the 
rest, without the power of joining in the repeated 
acclamations which rent the air." 



(91.) Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsyhqnia. 

The year 1794 is distinguished by an Insurrection 
in Pennsylvania, commonly called the Whiskey In- 
surrection, "In 1791, Congress had enacted laws, 
laying duties upon spirits distilled in the United 
States, and upon stills. From the commencement 
of the operation of these laws, combinations were 
formed in the four western counties of Pennsylvania 
to defeat them ; and violences were repeatedly com- 
mitted. In July of the present year, (1794.) about 
one hundred persons, armed with guns and other 
weapons, attacked the house of an inspector of the 
revenue, and wounded some persons within it. 
They seized the marshal of the district of Pennsyl- 
vania, who had been previously fired on, while in the 
execution of his duty, by a party of armed men, and 
compelled him to enter into stipulations to forbear 
the execution of his office. Both the inspector and 
the marshal were obliged to fly from that part of the 
country to the seat of government. These, and many 
other outrages, induced President Washington, on 
the seventh of August, to issue a proclamation, 
commanding the insm-gents to disperse, and warning- 
all persons against aiding, abetting, or comforting, 
the perpetrators of these treasonable acts, and re- 
q'uiring all officers, and other citizens, according t© 



F>ew-Yor]li 




>/W?w B<it7t 



iheir respective duties and the laws of the land, to 
exert their utmost endeavors to prevent and sup- 
press such dangerous proceedings. 

The President, having ordered out a suitable 
number of the militia, proceeded in October, to Bed- 
ford, whence he gave out instructions to Governor 
Lee, of Maryland, v^^hom he appointed to conduct 
the militia army for the suppression of the insur- 
gents. Governor Lee marched his troops, amount- 
ing to fifteen hundred men, into the wes^tern counties 
of Pennsylvania ; andy on the approach of this re- 
spectable force, the insurgents laid down their arms ; 
solicited the clemency of government ; and promis- 
ed future submission to the laws." 

Holmes^ Annals U. States, 



(92.) Yellow Fever in Philadelphia^ in 1793* 

The Yellow Fever, which has been the scourge 
of most of our principal southern cities, appears to 
have been in existence ever since the first settle- 
ment of our country. What the first cause of this 
disease is, or how it is propagated, are subjects up- 
on which physicians have a variety of opinions. — 
The most remarkable and fatal instance of the prev- 
alence of the Ynllow Fever in our country, is that 
"which occurred in Philadelphia in 1793. 

The followmg description is taken from Dr. Rush's 
account of the Yellow Fever. This distinguished 
physician continued in the city during the whole of 
this calamitous period, and rendered himself con- 
spicuous by his humanity and courage, amidst the 
appalling scenes of contagion, and his skill in com- 
bating this destructive disorder. It commenced 
early in August, and continued till about the 9th of 
15 



166 

November, during which time four thousand persons 
died out of a population of 60,000. Its greatest 
lieight was ot about the middle of October, when 
one hundred and nineteen persons died in one day. 

" The disease, (says Dr. Rush,) appeared in ma- 
ny parts of the town, remote from the spot where 
it originated ; although in every instance it was easi- 
ly traced to it. This set the city in motion. The 
streets and roads leading from the city were crow- 
ded with families flying in every direction for safety 
to the country. Business began to languish. Wa- 
ter-street, between Market and Race-streets, became 
a desert. The poor were the first victims of the 
fever. From the sudden interruption of business, 
they suffered for a while from poverty, as well as 
disease. A large and airy house at Bush-hill about 
a mile from the city, was opened for their recep- 
tion. This house, after it became the charge of a 
committee appointed by the citizens on the 14th of 
September, was regulated and governed with the or- 
der and cleanliness of an old and established hos- 
pital. An American and French physician had the 
exclusive medical care of it after the 22d of Sep- 
tember. 

The contagion, after the second week in Septem- 
ber, spared no rank of citizens. Whole families 
were confined by it. There was a deficiency of 
nurses for the sick, and many of those who were 
employed were unqualified for their business. 
There was likewise a great deficiency of physi- 
aians, from the desertion of some, and the sickness 
and death of others. At one time, there were on- 
ly three physicians who were able to do business 
out of their houses, and at this time, there were 
probably not less than 6,000 persons ill with the 



167 

During the first three or four weeks of the prev- 
alence of the disorder, I seldom went into a house 
the first time, without meeting the parents or chiidren 
of the sick in tears. Many wept aloud in my en- 
try, or parlor, who came to ask advice for their re- 
lations. Grief, after a while descended below 
weeping, and 1 was much struck in observing that 
many persons submitted to the loss of relations and 
friends, without shedding a tear, or manifesting any 
other of the common signs of grief. 

A cheerful countenance was scarcely to be seen 
in the city for six weeks, I recollect once, in enter- 
ing the house of a poor man, to have met a child of 
two years old that smiled in my face. I was 
strangely affected with this sight (so discordant to 
my feelings and the state of the city) before I recol- 
lected the age and ignorance of the child. I was 
confined the next day by an attack of the fever, and 
was sorry to hear upon my recovery, that the father 
and mother of this little creature died, a few days 
after my last visit to them. 

The streets every where discovered marks of the 
distresss that pervaded the city. More than one 
half the houses were shut up, although not more 
than one third of the inhabitants had fled into the 
country. In walking, for many hundred yards, few 
persons were met, except such as were in quest of 
a physician, a nurse, a bleeder, or the men who buri- 
ed the dead. The hearse alone kept up the remem- 
brance of the noise of carriages or carts in the 
streets. Funeral procesions were laid aside. A 
black man, leading or driving a horse, with a corpse 
on a pair of chair wheels, with now and then half a 
dozen relations or friends following at a distance 
from it, met the eye in most of the streets of the 
city at every hour of the day, while the noise of 



the same wheels passing slowly over the pavements^ 
kept alive anguish and tear in the sick and well, ev- 
ery hour of the night." 



(93.) Gen, Wa^jne^s Victory over the Indians, 

In 1 790, an Indian war opened on the north westera 
frontier of the States. Pacilic arrangements had 
been attempted by the President with the hostile 
tribes in Ohio, without ellect. On their failure, 
Gen. Harmer was sent with about 1400 men to re- 
duce them to terms. In this expedition Harmer suc- 
ceeded in destroying a few villages, and a quantity 
of grain belonging to the Indians ; but in an en- 
gagement with them near Chillicothe, he was de- 
feated with considerable loss. Upon the failure of 
Harmer, Gen. St. Clair was appointed to succeed 
him. With an army of nearly 1500 men, St. Clair 
sutfered himself to be surprised, with the loss of G30 
men killed and missed, and 2G0 were wounded. 
Among the killed was Gen. Butler, who, being 
wounded in the engagement, was carried off the 
field ; an Indian, discovering the place where he 
lay, killed him with his tomahawk before any one 
could come to his assistance. 

This action took place near the Miami, on the 4th 
of Nov. 1791. The Indians still continuing hostile, 
Gen. Wayne was appointed to succeed Gen. St. Clair. 
Failing to conclude a treaty, Wayne, with a force of 
900 men, on the 20th of August, 1794, attacked a 
body of 2000 Indians, on the banks of the Miami. 
The Indians were totally routed, a great number 
killed, and their whole country laid waste. " By 
means of this victory over the Miamis, a general 
war with the Six Nations, and all the tribes north- 
west of the Ohio, was prevented." 



169 

** In the year after, Wayne concluded, at Green- 
ville, treaties with the hostile Inciians north-west of 
the Ohio; by which peace was established, on 
terms nnutually satisfactory and beneficial. A hu- 
mane system now commenced for ameliorating their 
condition. They were, henceforth, protected by 
the United States from the impositions and incur- 
sions of lawless white people ; taught the use of the 
loom ; and encouraged in the pursuits of agriculture : 
measures reflecting high praise on Colonel Hawkins, 
who was aaiongst the first to execute the benevolent 
intentions, originally prnjocted by the humane spirit 
(jf General Washington.*" 



(94.) Difficulties with the French. 

In 1797, France wished to involve America in her 
European wars ; but finding her maintaining a steady 
system of neutrality, she adopted measures highly 
injurious to the American commerce, and many ves- 
sels were taken and confiscated. The American 
Government sent envoys to France, in order to settle 
the difi'erences. Before the French government 
would acknowledge the envoys, money, by way of 
tribute^ was demanded — this was refused. " These 
events were followed by depredations on American 
Gommerce, by the citizens of France ; which excited 
general indignation throughout the United States. 
Civil discord appeared extmct ; and this was the 
general motto; — '•'• Millions for defence, not a cent 
for tribute.'''* The treaty of alliance with France 
was considered by Congress as no longer in force ; 
ajid further measures were adopted by Congress, for. 

* Grimshaw; 
16* 



170 

retaliation and defence. A regular provisional army 
was established, taxes were raisod, and additional 
internal duties laid. General Washington, at the 
call of Congress, left his peaceful abode to command 
the armies of the United States, while General Ham- 
ilton was made second in command. The r^avy was 
increased, and reprisals were made on the water. 
At sea, the French frigate L'lnsurgente, of forty- 
guns, was captured after a desperate action, by the 
frigate Constitution, of thirty-eight guns, commanded 
by Commodore Truxton. The same officer com^ 
pelled another frigate of fifty guns to strike her 
colors 'y but she afterwards escaped in the night. 

On hearing of these vigorous preparations, the 
Freoch government indirectly made overtures for a 
renewal of the negotiations. Mr. Adams promptly 
met these overtures, and appointed Oliver Ellsworth, 
Chief Justice of the United States, Patrick Henry, 
late Governor of Virginia, and William Van Murray, 
Minister at the Hague, envoys to Paris for conclu- 
ding an honourable peace. They found the direc- 
tory overthrown, and the government in the hands 
of Napoleon Buonaparte, who had not partaken in 
the transactions which had embroiled the two coun- 
tTies. With him negotiations were opened, which, 
terminated in an amicable adjustment of all disputes. 
The provisional army was soon after disbanded by 
jorder af Congress." — Willard^s History (7. States^ 



(^.) Death of Washington^ 

On the 14th of December, 1799, Gen. Washings 
ton expired at his seat, at Mount Vernon, in Virginia, 
leaving a nation to mourn his ioss,^ and to embal«k 
^'s memory with their tears*^ 



171 

The disorder of which Gen. Washington dledf 
was an inflammatory affection of the windpipe, oc- 
casioned by an exposure to a light rain, while atr 
tending, the day before^ to some improvements on 
his estate. 

The disease at its commencement was violent^ 
and medical skill was applied in vain. Respiration 
became more and more contracted and imperfect, 
until half past eleven o'clock on Saturday night, 
when, retaining the full possession of his intellect^ 
he expired without a groan. 

On the melancholy occasion, the Senate addressed to tha 
President, a letter, in which they say ; " Permit us, sir, t© 
mingle our tears with yours. On this occasion, it is manly 
to weep. To lose such a man, at such a crisis, is no common 
calamity to the world. Our country mourns a father. The 
Almighty Disposer of events has taken from us our greatest 
benefactor and ornament. It becomes us to submit with rev- 
erence to Him who maketh darkness his pavilion. 

" With patriotic pride we review the life of Washington, 
and compare him with those of other countries who have been 
pre-eminent in favor. Ancient and modern names are di- 
minished before him. Greatness and guilt have too often been 
allied ; but his fame is whiter than it is brilliant. The de- 
stroyers of nations stood abashed at the majesty of his virtues. 
It reproved the intemperance of their ambition, and darkened 
the splendor of victory. 

" The scene is closed ; and we are no longer anxious lest 
misfortune should sully his glory. He has travelled on to the 
end of his journey, and carried with him an increasing weight 
of honor. He has deposited ii safely, where misfortune can- 
not tarnish it ; where malice cannot blast it. Favored of 
heaven, he departed without exhibiting the weakness of hu- 
manity ; magnanimous in death, the darkness of the grave 
Gould not obscure his brightness.'^ 

The committee appointed to devise some mode by 
which to express the national feehngs, recommend- 
ed that a marble monument be erected by the Uni-, 
ttd States, git the city of Washington, to comraemc-* 



i7fi 

rate the great events of Washington's military and 
political life : that a funeral oration be delivered by 
a member of Congress : that the President be re- 
quested to write a letter of condolence to Mrs. 
Washington : and that it be recommended to the 
citizens of the United States, to wear crape on the 
left arm for thirty days. 

These resolutions passed both houses unanimous- 
ly. The whole nation a|)peared in mourning. The 
funeral procession at the city of Washington was 
grand and solemn, and the eloquent oration, deliver- 
ed on the occasion by Gen. Henry Lee, was heard 
with profound attention, and with deep interest. 

Throughout the United States, similar marks of 
affliction were exhibited. Funeral orations were 
delivered, and the best talents devoted to an express 
sion of grief, at the loss of " the man, first in war, 
first in peace, and first in the hearis of his fellow- 
citizens."— ^Gooc?nc/i*5 Hist, U» States, 



(96.) Dr, Franklin's experiments in Electricity. 

In the summer of 1752, Dr. Franklin was enabled 
to make a grand and unparalleled discovery re- 
specting Electricity, by an experiment. 

At this time the subject of Electricity was a new 
science, and the philosophers of Europe were busy 
with it» Dr. Franklin, in his studies and reasonings 
on the subject, took up the idea that the thunder and 
lightning of the heavens were caused by electricity, 
and conceived the bold idea, that the electric fluid 
might be conducted, by sharp pointed iron rods, rais- 
ed upon houses, ships, &:c., to the ground or water, 
and thus preserve them from injury. 

He was determined to make an experiment, to test 



173- 

the truth of his theory. He accordingly prepared a 
kite, which he made by fastening two cross sticks to 
a silk handkerchief, which would not suffer so much 
from the rain as paper. To the upright stick he 
affixed an iron point. The string was, as usual, oi 
hemp, except the lower end, which was silk. At 
the lower end of the string he tied a key. Perceiv- 
ing a thunder storm coming on, Dr. Franklin, ac- 
companied by his son, went out back of Philadel- 
phia, on the common, and raised his kite towards, 
the clouds. 

A thunder cloud passed over it — no sign of elec- 
tricity appeared. He almost despaired of success 'y 
when, suddenly, he observed the lose fibres of his 
siring to move towards an erect position. He now 
presented his knuckle to the key and received a 
strong spark. Repeated sparks were drawn from 
the key, a phial was charged, a shock given, and all 
the experiments made, which are usually performed 
with electricity. 

By this and other experiments, Franklin's theory 
was established in the most convincing manner.' 
When it was known that an American, an inhabitant 
of the obscure city of Philadelphia, should be able 
to make discoveries and to frame theories, which 
had escaped the notice of the enlightened philoso- 
phers of Europe, it was quite mortifying to the. 
pride of their scientific societies. 



(97.) Invention of Steam Boats, 

The first successful application of steam for the 
purpose of propelling boats, was accomplished by 
Robert Fulton, a native of the Slate of Pennsylvania*. 

Mr. ^'ulton's inveulive genius displayed itself atv 



174 

an early age. It seems that as early as fhc year 
1793, he had conceived the idea of propelling ves- 
sels by steam, and he speaks in some of his writings 
with great confidence of its practicability. 

After a number of years residence in Europe, and 
making a variety of experiments both in that coun- 
try and in this, his labors were finally crowned with 
success. 

In the spring of 1807, the first steam boat built in 
this country was bnched from a ship yard in New- 
York, on the East-River. The engine which he 
procured from Erigland was put on board in Au- 
gust, and the boat was completed, and moved by 
her machinery to the Jersey shore. This boat, 
which was called the Clermont, soon after sailed for 
Albany, which voyage she accomplished, going at 
ihe rate of about five miles an hour; she afterwards 
became a regular passage boat betw^een New-York 
and Albany, From the time that this boat was put 
in motion, this noble invention has been rapidly 
extended ; till it is now used in every part of the 
civilized world. 



(98.) Jrars icith the Barhary States. 

War 'vith Tripoli. — In 1803, Congress sent out a 
squadron under the conunand of Commodore Preble 
to the Mediterranean, to protect the American com- 
merce, and to bring the Tripolitans to submission. 
The Tripolitan cruisers had long annoyed our com- 
merce — many merchantmen had been taken, and 
their crews imprisoned, antl cruelly useil. 

After having taken a number of the enemy's ves- 
sels, Com, Preble arrived before Tripoli and blocka- 
ded the harbour : his force consisted of 1 frigate. 



175 

3 brigs, 3 schooners, and six gun-boals. The num- 
ber of men engaged in the service amounted to one 
thousand and sixty. With this force, Preble re- 
peatedly attacked and bombarded the city, although 
it was defended by a castle and batteries, on which 
were mounted 115 pieces of cannon; besides this 
they had armed vessels in the harbor. In addition 
to the ordinary Turkish garrison, and the crews of the 
armed vessels, estimated at 3000, upwards of 20,000 
Arabs had been assembled for the defence of the 
city.* Such, however, was the effect of American 
bravery, that the haughty Bashaw was chastised 
into a peace, which was negociated by Col. Lear, 
the American Consul. The Pope made a public 
declaration, that " the United States, though in 
their infancy, had in this affair done more to humble 
the anti-christian barbarians, on that coast, than all 
the European states had done for a long series of 
time." 

Closely connected with the above, is the celebra- 
ted Expedition of Gen. Eaton, across the desert of 
Barca. " It happened that some time before this, 
the then reigning Bashaw of Tripoli, Jussuf, third 
son of the late Bashaw^ had murdered his father and 
eldest brother, and proposed to murder the second, 
in order to possess himself of the throne. But the 
latter, Hamct Caramelli, made his escape, and Jus- 
suf, without further opposition, usurped the govern- 
ment. 

Hamet took refuge in Egypt, where he was kindly 
treated by the Beys. Here he was, on the arrival 
of an accredited agent of the United States, (Gene- 
ral Eaton,) who revived his almost expiring hopes 
of regaining his rightful kingdom. 

* Nayal Temple. 



176 

Gen. Eaton, had been Consul for the tJnited 
States up the Mediterranean, and was returning 
borne when he heard of the situation of Hamet. 
Conceiving a plan of liberating the Americans in 
captivity at Tripoli, by means of the assistance of 
Hamet, and, at the same time, of restoring this exile 
to his throne, he advised with Hamet, who readily 
listened to the project, and gave his co-operation. 

A convention was accordingly entered into be- 
tween Gen. Eaton, on the part of the United States, 
and Hamet, by which the latter stipulated much in 
favor of the Americans, and was promised to be re- 
atored to his throne. 

With a small force, consisting of seamen from the 
American squadron, the followers of Hamet, and 
some Egyptian troops. Gen. Eaton and Hamet, with 
incredible toil and suffering, passed the desert of 
Barca and took possession of Derne, the capital of 
a large province belonging to the kingdom of Tripo- 
li. The forces of Eaton were now so much increas- 
ed, and the cause of Hamet had beconie so popular, 
that the prospect was flattering, of his being able tp 
reduce the city of Tripoli, and of effecting the libe- 
ration of fhe captives without ransom. 

The successes of Eaton struck the usurper 
Jussuf with terror ; trembling for his fate, in this 
juncture he proposed to Mr, Lear, the Consul-gen- 
eral of America, then in the Mediterranean, to enter 
into negotiation. Mr. Lear, who was authorized to 
enter into a negotiation, accepted the proposal, al- 
though he knew of the success of Eaton, and Hamet, 
^nd a treaty ensued. Eaton and Hamet were con- 
sequently arrested in the prosecution of their pur- 
pose, apd the unfortunate exile failed of his pro- 
mised restoration to the throne.* 
* Goodrich's U. S. 



177 

Aigerine War. — Soon after the ratification of 
peace with Great Britain, in February, 1815, Con- 
gress, in consequence of the hostile conduct of the 
Regency of Algiers, declared war against that power. 
A squadron was immediately sent out under the 
command of Commodore Decatur, (who had for- 
merly highly distinguished himself in the Tripolitan 
war,) consisting of three frigates, two sloops of war, 
and four schooners. With this force Com. Decatur 
sailed from New- York, May 20th, 1815, and arrived 
in the bny of Gibraltar in twenty-five days. On the 
i7th of June, off Cape de Gatt, he captured the Ai- 
gerine frigate Mazouda, after a running fight of 25 
minutes. After the second broadside the Algerines 
ran below. In this aifair the famous Aigerine Ad- 
miral, or Rais Hammida, who had long been the 
terror of this sea, was cut in two by a cannon shot. 
On the 19th of June, off Cape Palos, the squadron 
captured an Aigerine brig of twenty-two guns. 
From Cape Palos the American squadron proceeded 
to Algiers, where it arrived on the 28th of June. 
Decatur immediately dispatched a letter from the 
President of the United States to tht Dey, in order 
to afford him a fair opportunity for negotiation. 
The Captain of the port was immediately sent to the 
squadron on receipt of (his letter, accompanied by 
the Swedish Consul ; and Commodore Decatur, who, 
with Mr. Shaler, had been empowered (o negotiate 
a treaty, proposed a basis, on which alone be would 
consent to enter into a treaty. This was the abso- 
lute and unqualified relinquishment of any demand 
of tribute^ on the part of the Regency. To this the 
Captain demurrecl But being informed of ihe cap- 
ture of the frigate and brig, and the death of Ham- 
niida, he was unnerved, and agreed to negonate oa 
the proposed basis. The model of the treaty was 
16 



m 

sent to the Bey, who signed it. The principal arti- 
cles in this treaty were, that no tribute, wnder any 
circumstances whatever, should be required by Al- 
giers from the United States of America ; that all 
Americans in shivery should be given up without 
ransom ; that compensation should be made for 
American vessels, or property seized or detained at 
Algiers ; that the persons and property of Ameri- 
cans, found on board of an enemy's vessel, should 
be sacred ; that vessels of either party putting into 
port should be supplied at market price ; that if a 
vessel of either party should be cast on the shore, 
she should not be plundered, &,c. The rights of 
American citizens on the ocean, and the land, were 
generally fully provided for, in every instance ; and 
it was particularly stipulated, that all citizens of the 
United States, taken in war, should be treated as 
prisoners of war are treated by other nations ; held 
subject to an exchange without ransom. After con- 
cluding this treaty, so highly honorable and advan- 
tageous to our country, the commissioners gave up 
the frigate and brig, which had been captured, to 
their former owners. 

After this, Commodore Decatur visited Tunis and 
Tripoli, demanded and olnained compensation for 
injuries done American citizens by those powers. 



(99.) Burr'^s Conspiracy, 

In the autumn of 1806, a project was detected, at 
the head of which was Col. Burr, for revolutionizing 
the territory west of the Alleghanies, and of estab- 
lishing an independent empire there, of which New- 
Orleans was to be the capital, and himself the chief. 
Tewards the accomplishment of this scheme, which 



179 

it afterwards appeared had been some time in con- 
templation, the skilful cunnmg and intn^uc of Col/ 
Burr were directed. Happily, however, govern- 
ment being apprised of his designs, arrested him, 
while as yet he had few adherents and before his 
standard was raised. He was brought to trial at 
Richmond, on a charge of treason committed within 
the district of Virginia ; but no overt act being 
proved against him in that State, he was released. 

In addition to this project, Col. Burr had formed 
another, which in case of failure in the first, might be 
carried on independently of it : — this was an attack 
©n Mexico, and the establishment of an empire 
there.* " A third object was provided, merely os- 
tensible, to wit, the settlement of the pretended pur- 
chase of a tract of country on the Washita, claimed 
by a Baron Bastrop. This was to serve as a pre- 
text for all his preparations, an allurement for such 
followers as really wished to acquire settlements in 
that country, and a cover under which to retreat in 
the event of a final discomfiture of both branches of 
his real designs." 

" He found at once that the attachment of the west- 
ern country to the present Union was not to be 
shaken : ihat its dissolution could not be effected 
with the consent of the inhabitants : and that his re- 
sources were inadequate, as yet, to effect it by force. 
He determined, therefore, to seize New-Orleans, 
plunder the bank there, possess himself of the mili- 
tary and naval stores, and proceed on his expedition 
to Mexico. 

He collected, therefore, from all quarters, where 

himself or his agents possessed influence, all the 

ardent, restless, desperate, disaffected persons, who 

were for an enterprise analogous to their characters. 

* Goodrich's Hist. U. S. 



180 

He also seduced good and well meaning citizens, 
some by assurances that he possessed the confi- 
dence of the government, and was acting under its 
secret patronage ; and others by ofters of land in 
Bastrop's claim in the Washita."* 



(100.) Expedition of Captains Leicis and Clarke to 
the Pacijic Ocean. 

In the year 1803, the extensive Territory of Lou- 
isiana was purchased from the French government, 
by President Jclfcrson, for fifteen millions of dollars. 
Upon the acquisition of the new territory, the atten- 
tion of the government of the United States was di- 
rected towards exploring the country. According- 
ly, Captains Lewis and Clarke, and a party of 25 
men, who were enlisted for the purpose, were sent 
on this expedition. The party proceeded to the 
mouth of ^Vood River, near St. Louis, and on the 
14th of May, 1804, with three boats, began the te- 
dious and difhcuit expedition of exploring the vast 
wilderness before them. Following the course of 
the Missouri, they arrived, in October, at the Man- 
dan villages, where they built a kind of fort and en- 
camped for the winter. In April they left their en- 
campment, and with two large boats and six small 
canoes proceeded on their expedition. On the 12th 
ef August, 1805, they discovered the sources of the 
Missouri, the longest river in the known world, if 
we add the distance after it unites with the Missis- 
sippi, to the ocean, it being almost 4,500 miles long. 
After following the course of the river, at the foot of a 
mountain, it became so diminished in width that one 
of the men, in a fit of enthusiasm, with one foot on 

* Pre»ideat's Message to Congress, July 21, 1807. 



181 

each side of tbo river, thanked God thai he had lived 
to bestride the Missouri. After they went about 4 
miles, tl»ey reached a small gap, foiTiied by the high 
mountains, which recede on each side, leaving room 
for an Indian road. " From the fool of one ol the 
lowest of these mountains, which rises with an ascent 
of about half a mile, issues the remotest water of the 
Missouri." 

Alter they had cjuenched their thirst at the loun- 
tciin, they sat down by the brink of the little rivulet, 
and felt themselves rewarded for their labor and 
dilliculties, in thus attaining one of the grand objects 
of their expedition.. 

Leaving, this interesting spot, they, pursuing the 
Indian path through the interval of the hills, arrived 
at the top of a ridge, from whence they saw high 
iTiountains, partially covered with snow, still to the 
west of them, 'i^he ridge on which they stood 
ibi-nied the dividing line between the waters of the 
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. They followed the 
d 'Scent of the ridge, and at the distance of three 
quarters of a mile, reached a bold creek of clear, 
cold water, rutining to the westward. TI1C7 stopped 
lo taste, for the first time, the waters of the Columbia. 

Having proceeded as far as they could with 
canoes, they were obliged to leave them and pur- 
chase horses of the natives, with which they crossed 
the Rocky Mountains. In performing this journey 
they were reduced to great straits, being obliged to 
kill some of their horses for food. After passing 
several ranges of steep and rugged mountains, they 
descended the Columbia River, till it discharges 
itself into the Pacific Ocean, where they arrived 
November 14th, 1805. They encamped for the 
winter, and, on the 23d of March, 1806, set out on 
^heir return to the United States. After encountcr- 
16* 



182 

ing many dangers, hardships and privations, they 
finally arrived at St. Louis, Missouri, on the 23d of 
September, 1806. The route which the party look 
from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean, was a distance 
of 4,134 miles. 

In returning, they passed upon a better and more 
direct route, shortening the distance to 3,555 miles, 
from the Pacific to St. Louis. 



(101.) Second War with Great Britain. 

Causes of the War, Embargo, Declaration of 
War. — The remote causes of the second War with 
Great Britain appear to have arisen from the war 
existing between that power and France. America 
endeavored to maintain a strict neutrality, and peace- 
ably to continue a commerce with them. Jealousies, 
however, arose between the contending powers, 
with respect to the conduct of America, and events 
occurred, calculated to ir.jiire her commerce, and to 
disturb her peace. The Berlin Decree of 1806, and 
that o( Milati, in the succeeding year, (both issued 
by the French government, to prevent the American 
flag from trading with their enemy,) were followed 
by the British Orders in Council ; no less extensive 
than the former, in the design, and equally repug* 
nant to the law of nations. In addition to these 
circumstances, a cause of irritation existed some 
time between the United States and Great Britain* 
This was the right of search, claimed by Great Brit- 
ain, as one of her prerogatives. This was to take 
her native born subjects, wherever found, for hep 
navy, and to seaix:h An^erican vessels for that pur- 
pose. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of the 
American government, the officers of the British 



183 

ijavy,were not unfrequenlly seizing native born B»ii- 
ish subjects, who had voluntarily enlisted on board 
of our vessels, and had also impressed into the Brit- 
ish service sume thousands of American seamen. 

'^ On the 22d of June, 1807, the indignation of the 
country was aroused by the attack on the American 
frigate Chesapeake, o the Capes of Virginia, by 
the British frigate Leopard ; four men were killed 
and sixteen were wounded, on board the Chesa^ 
peake, and four seamen impressed, three of whicb 
were natives of America,"* 

In consequence of the British and French decrees, 
a general capture of all American property on the 
seas seemed almost inevitable. Congress, there* 
fore, on the recommendation of the President, on the 
22d of December, 1807, laid an embargo on all ves- 
sels within the jurisdiction of the United States, 
*' In a moment, the commerce of the American Re- 
public, from being, in point of extent, the second in 
the world, was reduced to a coasting trade between 
the individual States." The opposition to the act in 
several States was so great, that they declared 
against it, and individuals throughout the whole, 
seized every opportunity of infringement. In 1 809, 
Congress repealed the embargo law, and substituted 
a non-intercourse with France and England. 

On the 1 8th of June, 1812, an aqt was passed de- 
claring war against Great Britain. This act passed 
the House of Representatives by a majority of 79 to 
49; in the Senate by a majority of 19 to 13. In the 
Manifesto of the President, the reasons of the war 
were stated to be '* the impressnient of American 
seamen by the British; the blockade of her enemies'^'^ 
]^orts, supported by no adequate force, in conse-. 

* Grimshaw'a Hist. U. States: 



184 



tjuence of which the American commerce had been 
plundered in every sea ; and the British orders in 



(102.) Mob in Baltimore, 

A few days after the declaration of war, the lowp 
of Baltimore was seriously disturbed. Some harsh 
strictures on the conduct of government having ap- 
peared in a newspaper of that city, entiUed the 
'' Federal Republican?" the resentment of the op- 
posite party was shown by destroying the office and 
})ress of that establishnient. The commotion excited 
by this outrage, had, however, in a great measure, 
subsided, and the transaction was brought before a 
criminal court for investigation. But events more 
alarming and tragical shortly afterwards succeeded. 
On the 26th of Jujy, Mr. flanson, the leading editor 
of the obnoxious j-ournal, who had deemed it prudent 
to leave the disordered city, returned ; accompanied 
by his political adherents ; amongst whom, was 
General Henry Lee, of Alexandria ; an officer dis- 
tinguished in the Revolution, for his bravery in par- 
tisan warfare at the head of a legion of cavalry; 
afterwards Governor of Virginia, and a Representa- 
tive from that State in the Congress of the Federal 
Government. Determined to re-commence the pa- 
per, by first printing it in Georgetown, in the Dis- 
trict of Columbia, and then transmitting it to Balti- 
more for distribution, a house was, for this purpose, 
occupied in Charles-street, secured against external 
violence, and guarded by a party w^ell provided for 
defence. On the 28th, papers were accordingly 
issued. These contained severe animadversions 
against the Mayor, police, and people of Baltimore^ 



]85 

for the depredations committed on the establishment 
in the preceding month, and were generally circula- 
ted throughout the city. 

In the course of the dayj it became known that 
Mr. Hanson was in the new office in Charles street, 
and it was early whispered that the building would 
be assailed. A number of citizens, who espoused 
his opinions, went, therefore, to the house, and joined 
in its protection. Towards the evening, a crowd of 
boys collected ; who, after using opprobrious epi- 
thets to those within, began to throw stones at the 
windows ; and, about the same time, a person on 
the pavement, endeavoring to dissuade the youths 
from mischief, was severely wounded, by something 
ponderous thrown from the house. They were cau- 
tioned from the windows to desist ; but still continu- 
ed to assail the place with stones. Two muskets 
were then fired from the upper story ; charged, it 
was supposed, with blank cartridges, to deter them 
from further violence ; immediately, the crowd in 
the street greatly increased ; the boys were displa- 
ced by men ; the sashes of the lower windows were 
broken, anrl attempts made to force in the door. 
Muskets, in quick succession, were discharged from 
the house: some military arrived to disperse the 
crowd ; several shots were fired in return ; and, at 
length, a Doctor Gale was killed, by a shot from the 
office door. The irritation of the mob was increas- 
ed. They planted a cannon against the house, but 
were restrained from discharging it, by the timely 
arrival of an additional military force, and an agree- 
ment that the persons in the house would surrender 
to the civil authority. Accordingly, early in the fol- 
lowing morning, having received assurances, on 
which they thought themselves safe in relying, they 
surrendered, and were conducted to the county jail, 



186 

contiguous to the city. The party consisted of 
about twenty persons ; amongst whom, were Gen. 
Lee, Gen. James Lingan, and Mr. Hanson. 

The Mayor directed the sheriff to use every pre- 
caution to secure the doors of the prison, and the 
commander of the troops to employ a competent 
force to preserve the peace. In the evenir g every 
thing bore the appearance of tranquihty ; and the 
soldiers, by the consent of that magistrate, were 
disaiissed. But, shortly after dark, a great crowd 
of disorderly persons, re-assembled about the jail, 
and manifested an intention to force it open. On 
being apprized of this, the Mayor hastened to the 
spot, and, with the aid of a few other gentlemen, 
for a while prevented the execution of the design : 
but they were at length overpowered^ by the num- 
ber and violence of the assailants. The Mayor 
was carried away by force ; and the turnkey com- 
pelled to open the doors. A tragedy ensued, which 
cannot be described: it can be imagined only by 
those who are familiar with scenes of blood. Gen, 
Lingan was killed ; eleven were beaten and man- 
gled with weapons of every description, such as 
stones, bludgeons, and sledge-hammers, and then 
thrown, as dead, into one pile outside of the door. 
A tew of the prisoners fortunately escaped through 
the crowd : Mr Hanson, fainting from his repeated 
wounds, was carried by a gentleman (of opposite 
political sentiments) at the hazard of his own life, 
across the adjoining river, whence he with difficulty 
reached the dwelling of a friend. 

No efFoctual inquisition was evermade into this sig- 
nal violation of the peace, nor punishment inflicted 
on the guilty. The leaders, on both sides, under- 
went trials ; but, owing to the inflammation of public 
feelings, they were acquitted. — Grimshaw'^s 17. S* 



187 
( 1 03.) General HuWs Surrender, 

Soon after the declaration of war, on the 16th of 
August, General Hull, the Governor of Michigan 
Territory, surrendered his whole army, and the fort 
at Detroit, without a single battle, to General 
Brock. " So entirely unprepared was the public 
for this extraordinary event, that no one could be- 
lieve it to have taken place, until communicated 
from an official source." Hull had been sent at the 
head of about 2500 men, to Detroit, with a vievf 
©f putting an end to the Indian hostilities in that 
part of the country. At the time of the surrender 
of the fort, it is said that his force consisted of more 
than 1000 men, that of the British of 1300, of whom 
more than half were Indians. When the British 
column had arrived within 500 yards of the Ameri- 
can lines. General Hull oi'dered his men, who were 
placed in a favorable situation to annoy the enemy, 
to retreat into the fort, and that the cannon should 
not be fired. " Immediately there was heard an 
universal burst of indignation." The order, how- 
ever, could not be disobeyed. The men were or- 
dered to stack their arms ; a white flag was hung out 
upon the walls, and a communication passed be- 
tween the two Generals, which was shortly follow- 
ed by a capitulation. The American volunteers 
and militia were sent home, on condition of not 
serving again during the war, unless exchanged. 
The General and the regular troops were sent to 
Quebec as prisoners of war. 

Being exchanged. General Hull was prosecuted 
by the government of the United Slates, and ar- 
raigned before a military tribunal, who acquitted 
him of the charge of treason, but sentenced him to 
death, for cowardice and unofficer-like conduct. 



isa 



1 



But in consequence of his age and revolutionary 
services, the President remitted the punishment of 
death, but deprived him of all military command. 



(104.) Capture of the Guerriere* 

The Constitution, Captain Hull, had sailed from 
Anna|)olis on the 5ih of July. On the 17th, he 
was chased by a ship of the line and four frigates; 
when, by an exertion of able seamanship, than 
which, the victory itself, though more beneficial, 
could not be more worthy of applause, he escaped 
from the enequal combat. On tlie 19th of August, 
he had an ojiportunity of trying his frigate against 
a single vessel of the enemy. This was the Guer- 
ricre ; one of the best, of the same class, in the 
British navy, and in no way averse to the rencoun- 
ter; as she promptly awaited her antagonist's arri- 
val. She had, for some time, been searching for 
an American frigate ; having given a formal chal- 
lange to every vessel of thesaine description. Atone 
of her mast heads, was a tlag, on which her name 
was inscribed in conspicuous letters ; and on anoth- 
er, the words, "Not the Little Belt;" alluding to 
the broadsides which the President had hred into 
that sloop, before the war. The Constitution be- 
ing ready for action, now ap})roached, her crew 
giviiig three cheers. Both continued manauvre- 
ing lor three (juart^rs of an hour; the Guerrierc 
attempted to take a raking position, and failing in 
this, soon afterwards began to pour out her broad- 
sides, with a view of crippling her antagonist. 
FroMi the Constitution, not a gun had been tired. 
Alreaily, had aii o'licor twice come on the quarter- 
deck, with mfoiuiation that several of the men had 



189 

liallcn at the guns. Though ])urning with impa- 
tience, the crew silently awaited the orders of dicir 
commander. The long expected momcrjl at length 
arrived. The vessel being brought exnctly to the 
designed position, (hrections were given to fire 
broadside after broadside, in (juick succession. 
Never was any scene more dreadful. — For fifteen 
minutes, the lightning of the Constitution's guns 
is a contimied bla/e, and theii- thunder roars with- 
out intermission. The enemy's mizen mast lies 
over her side, and she stands exposed to a fire 
that swecfjs her decks. She becomes unmanagea- 
ble ; her hull is shattered, her sails and rigging cut 
to pieces. Iter mairmiast and foremast fall over- 
board, taking with th<Mn every spar, except the 
bowsi)rit. — 'l1ie firing now ceased, arjd the Guer- 
riere surrendcMcd. Her l')ss was fifteen killed, and 
sixty-three wounded ; the (Jonstitution had seven 
men killed, and seven wounded. The (iuerrierc 
was so much damaged, as to render it impossible 
to bring her into port ; she was, therefore, on the 
following day, blown up. The Constitution re- 
ceived so little injin-y, liiat she was, in a (cw hoiu'S, 
ready for another action. — (Jrlmskaw^s Hist, if, S. 



(]05.) Baltic at Quecnslown. 

Early in the morning of the 13th of October, 
18l'i, a df.'tachment of about 1000 m< •., iiom the 
ai'ruy of the Centre, crossed the river Niagara and 
attacked tlie British on Queenstown heights. 'I'his 
deiiichmeiit, under the conjman(] ol Colonel Solo- 
mon Van Rensellaer, succeeded in dislodging the en- 
emy — but not being reirdorced by the militia, irom 
the American side, as was expected, they were ul- 
17 



190 

Umately rcpnlsed, and were obliged to surrender. 
The B'-itish General Brock, was killed during the 
engagement. 

Tiie forces designed to storm the heights, were 
divided into two columns ; one of 300 mihlia, un- 
der Colonel Van Rensellaer, the other 300 regulars, 
under Colonel Christie. These were to be follow- 
ed by Colonel Fenwick'a artillery, and then the 
other troops in order. 

Much embarrassment was experienced by the 
boats, from the eddies, as well as the shot by the 
enemy, in crossing the river. Colonel Van Rensel- 
laer led the van, and landed first with 100 men. 
Scarcely had he leaped from the boat, when he re- 
ceived four severe wounds. Being, however, abte 
to stand, he ordered his oflkers to move with rapid- 
ity and storm the fort. This service was gallantly 
performed, and the enemy were driven down the 
hill in every direction. 

Both parties were now reinforced — the Ameri- 
cans by regulars and militia — the British by the 49th 
regiment, consisting of 600 regulars, under Gene- 
ral Brock. Upon this the conflict was renewed, in 
wdiich General Brock, and his aid, Captain McDo- 
nald, fell almost in the same moment. After a des- 
perate engagement, the enemy were repulsed, and 
the victory was thought complete. 

General Van Rensellaer now crossed over, for 
the purpose of fortifying the heights, preparatory to 
another attack, should the enemy be reinforced. 
This duty he assigned to Lieutenant Totten, an able 
engineer. 

But the fortune of the day was not yet decided. 
At 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy, being re- 
inforced by several hundred Chippewa Indians, ral- 
lied, and again advanced, but w^ere a third time re- 



191 

pulsed. At this moment, General Van Rensellaer, 
perceiving the militia on the opposite side embark- 
ing but slowly, liastily re-crossed the river, to ac- 
celerate their movements. But what was his cha- 
grin, on reaching the American side, to hear more 
than 1 200 men, (militia,) positively refuse to em 
bark. The sight of the engagement had cooled 
that ardor, which, previously to the attack, the 
commander in chief could scarcely restrain. 
While their countrymen were nobly struggling for 
victory, they could remain idle spectators of 
the scene. All that a brave, resolute, and benevo- 
lent commander could do, General Van Rensellaer 
did — he urged, entreated, commanded, but it was 
all in vain. Eight hundred British soldiers, from 
fort George, now hove in sight, and pressed on to 
ix;new the attack. The Americans, for a time, con- 
tinued to struggle against this force, but were final- 
ly obliged to surrender themselves prisoners ot war, 
'I'he number of American troops killed, amount- 
ed to about GO, and about 100 were wounded. 
Those who surrendered themselves prisoners of 
■vrar, including the wounded, were about 700. The 
loss of the British is unknown, but must have been 
severe. — Goodrkh?s Hist, U, S, 



(lOG.) Massacre at Fort Mimms. 

In 1812, Tecumseh, the celebrated Shawnee chief 
and 13ritish ally, appeared among the Indians of the 
South, and by his arts of persuasion, induced a 
large majority of the Creek nation, and a consider- 
able portion of the other tribes, to take up arms 
against the United States. Being supplied with im- 
plements of war from the British, through the chan- 



192 

ne\ of the Floridas, they accordingly commenced 
hostilities. 

" Alarm and consternation prevailed among the 
white inhabitants ; those of Tensaw district, a con- 
siderable settlement of the Alabama, fled for safety 
to fort Mimms on that river, sixteen miles above 
fort Stoddard. The place was garrisoned by one 
hundred and fifty volunteers, of the Mississippi 
territory, under Major Beasly. The inhabitants 
collected at the fort, amounted to about three hun- 
dred. 

At eleven o'clock in the forenoon of the 30th of 
August, a body of Indians, to the amount of six or 
seven hundred warriors, issued from the adjoining 
wood, and approached the fort ; they advanced 
within a few rods of it before the alarm was given. 
As the centinel cried out, '• Indians," they immedi- 
ately gave a war-whoop, and rushed in at the gate, 
before the garrison had time to shut it. This deci- 
ded their fate. Major Ctnsly was mortally wound- 
ed at the commencement of the assault; he ordered 
his men to secure the ammunition, and retreat into 
the house; he was himself carried into the kitchen, 
and afterwards consumed in the flames. 

The fort was originally square, but Major Beasly 
had enlarged it by extending the lines upon two sides 
about fifty feet, and putting up a new side, into 
which the gate was removed ; the old line of pickets 
were standing, and the Indians on rushing in at the 
gate, obtainecl possession of the outer part, and 
through the port holes of the old line of pickets, 
fired on the people who held the interior. On the 
opposite side of the fort, was an ollset, or bastion, 
made round the back gate, which being open on the 
outside, was occupied by the Indians, who, with the 
^xes that lay scattered about, cut down the gate. 



193 

The people in the fort, kept possession of the port- 
holes on the other lines, and fired on the Indians 
who remained on the outside. Some of the Indians 
ascended the block-house at one of the corners, 
and fired on the garrison below, but were soon dis- 
lodged ; they succeeded, however, in setting fire to 
a house near the pickets, which communicated to 
the kitchen, and from thence to the main dweHing- 
housc. When the people in the fort saw the In- 
dians in full possession of the outer court, the gate 
open, the men fast faUing, and their houses in flames, 
they gave up all for lost, and a scene of the most 
distressing horror ensued. The women and chil- 
dren sought refuge in the upper story of the dwel- 
ling-house, and were consumed in the flames, the 
Indians dancing and yelling round them with the 
most savage delight. Those who were without the 
buildings were murdered and scalped without dis- 
tinction of age or sex ; seventeen only escaped. 
The battle and massacre lasted from eleven in the 
forenoon until six in the aUernoon, by which time 
the work of destruction was fully completed, the 
fort and buildings entirely demolished, and upwards 
of four hundred men, women, and childi'cn, massa- 
cred". — Perkins'^ Late War^ 



(107.) Capture of York, {U, C.) 

On the 23d of April, Gon. Dearborn embarked 
at Sackelt's Harbor, willi sixteen hundred men, on 
an expedition against York, at the head of the lake, 
leaving the defence of the harbor, with all the stores, 
public property, and a new ship on the slocks, to a 
handful of regulars, under Col. Backus, and the 
neighboring militia, not then arrived, It seemed to 



194 

have escflpcd the observation of the commanchng; 
General, that the enemy wouKl probably, in his ab- 
sence, strike at an important post thus \c{\ uncover- 
ed. On the "^Tih, Gen. Dearborn with the Ihnt, ar- 
rived before the town of York and immeiliately com- 
menced a disembarkation. The commanding Gen- 
eral intrusted the further prosecution of the expe- 
dition to Gen. Pike, and remained on board the tleet. 
To oppose their landing, a corps of Ih'iiish grena- 
diers, the Glengary lencibk^s, and several boches 
of Indians, appeared at dilVeront points on die shore. 
At eii;ht o'clock the troops commenced their h\nil- 
ing, three miles westward of the town, and a niile and 
a Iralf distant from the Brilisii works. The place 
first designed for their latuling, was a cleared field 
)iear the site of the old French I'ort Tarento ; but 
the wind was high and prevented the first division, 
from landing at that place, and also prevented the 
ships from covering tlieir disembarkation. The ri- 
flemen under Major Forsylhe, tirst landed under a 
heavy tire from tho enemy. IMajor Gen. SheatVe had 
collecteil his whole force consisting oi' about seven 
or eight hundred regulars and militia, with a hundred 
Indians, to oppose their landing, and coiumanded in 
])crson. Maii)r Forsythe, although supported by 
ihe other troops as prom})lly as })ossible, was obli- 
ij;cd to sustain alone a sharp conihct with the whole 
British force for nearly half an hour. As soon as 
Gen. Pike had elTected h's landing, with aboiit eight 
hundred men. the Briiish retreated to their works. 
The main body of the Americans landed and formed 
at old fort Tarento. and quickly advanced through 
a thick wood to an open ground near the Bri'ish 
works. The hrst battery was carried by assault, 
and the colum;is moved on towards tlie mam works; 
when the head of the column had arrived within 



about sixty rods, a trcmondous explosion took place 
from a inu^',i7Anv. prcparrd for ihnt pi;rposf;, and 
killed and wounded one hundred men. Gen. Pike 
was mortally wounded by a stone which was thrown 
tip by the explosior), and struck him on the fipeast. 
He was immediately conveyed on boanJ the Commo- 
dore's ship, and soorj expired. After the confusion 
which these eve/its necessarily occasioned, the 
American troops proceeded to the town, and agreed 
to a capitulation with the commandir)g oflicers of the 
Canadian militia, by which it was stipulated, that all 
the public property should be deliveied to the Amer- 
icans, the militia surrendered prisoners of war, 
and private property protected, hnmediately after 
the (,'Xplosiorj, Gen. Sheaffe, with the regulars, re- 
treated out of ilie reach of the American arms. 
Two hundred and fifty militia, and fifty marines and 
regulars, were included in the capitulation. The 
American loss was fourteen killed in battle, and fif- 
ty-two by the exfilosion; twenty-three wounded in 
battle, and one hundred and eight by the explosion. 
One large vessel on the stocks, and a quantity of 
naval stores were set fire to by the British, and con- 
sumed ; but more naval stores were taken by the 
Americans than could be carried away. The pub- 
lic buildings for military use, and the military stores 
which could not be removed, were destroyed. 
York was the seat of government for Upper Cana- 
da, and the ]'>ririr;ipal depot for the Niagara frontier, 
and Dftroit. Gen. Sheafl'e's baggage and papers 
were taken. Jrj the government hall a human scalp 
was found, suspended over the speaker's chair with 
the mace and other emblems of power. This buil- 
ding was burned, contrary to the orders of the 
American General, — Perkina^ History of the, War, 



1«6 
(108.) Battle on Lake Erie, 

The American fleet consisted of nine vessels, car- 
rying fifty four guns, commanded by Commodore 
Perry, a young officer. The British (leet of six ves- 
sels and sixty three guns, under Commodore Bar- 
clay, an old and experienced ollicer, who had served 
under Nelson. The line of battle was formed at 
n o'clock, (Sept. 10, 1813.) At fifteen minutes 
before 12, the enemy's flag ship, "Queen Charlotte," 
opened a furious fire upon the "Lawrence," (he flag 
ship of Com. Perry. The wind being light, the 
rest of the squadron were unable to come to his as- 
sistance, and he was compelled for two hours to sus- 
tain the fire of two of the enemy's ships, each of 
equal force. By this time the Lawrence had be- 
come unmanageable, every gun was dismounted, her 
crew except four or five were all killed or wounded. 

In this desperate condition, Commodore Perry, 
with great presence of mind, formed the bold design 
to shift his flag, and leaping into an open boat, wa- 
ving his sword, he passed unhurt through a shower 
of balls to the Niagara of twenty guns. At this 
critical moment the wind increased, and Perry bore 
down upon the enemy, passing the "Detroit," 
^' Queen Charlotte," and "Lady Provost," on one 
side, and the "Chippewa" and "Little Belt" on 
the other, into each of which while passing he pour- 
ed a broadside. He then engaged the "Lady Pro- 
vost," which received so heavy a fire that the men 
ran below. The remainder of the American squad- 
ron now one after another came u[). After a con- 
test of three hours the American fleet gained a com- 
pleie victory, and captured every vessel of the en- 
emy. Commodore Perry announced this victory 
in the following \^cou]r f^iylei^^^^We have met the 
tnemy, and they are oursl^^ 



197 

lihe Americans lost in this action twenty scyeu 
killed and ninety six wounded. The British had 
about two hundred killed and wounded — the Amer- 
icans took six hundred prisoners, which exceeded 
the whole number of Americans engaged iu the 
action. 



(109.) Death of Tecumseh. 

On the 5th of October, a battle was fought be- 
tween the American army under Gen. Harrison, and 
the British, under Gen. Proctor, in which the Brit- 
ish were defeated, and Detroit fell into the hands of 
the Americans. 

The British were assisted by a body of 1200 or 
1500 Infliari warriors, led on by Tecumseh, a cele- 
brated Indian chieftain. Upon the left, the onsef 
was begun by Tecumseh, with great fury. He was 
opposed by Col. Johnson, of Kentucky. The In- 
dians seemed determined to conquer or die. The 
terrible voice of Tecumseh was heard encouraging 
his warriors ; although beset on every side, they 
fought with determined courage. Col. Johnson 
now rushed towards the spot, where the savage war- 
riors were gathering round their undaunted chief- 
tain. In a moment a hundred rifles were aimed at 
the American, the balls pierced his dress and accou- 
trements, and himself and his horse received a num- 
ber of wounds. At the instant his horse was about 
to fall under him, he was discovered by Tecumseh: 
having discharged his rifle he sprang forward with 
his tomahawk, but, struck with the appearance of 
the brave man before him, he hesitated for a moment, 
and that moment was his last. Col. Johnson level- 
led a pistol at his breast, and they both, almost at 
18 



103 

the same instant, fell to the ground. CoL Johnson^^ 
men now rushed forward to his rescue, and the In- 
dians, hearing no longer the voice of their chiefy 
soon after fled. 

''Thus fell Tecumseh, and with him, fell the last 
hope of our Indian enemies." Since the year 1 790, 
he had been in almost every engagement with the 
whites; he was a determined enemy to the attempts 
to civilize the Indians, and had for years endeavor- 
ed to unite the tribes in opposing the progress of 
the settlement of the whites, any farther to the west- 
ward. On the opening of the last war, he visited 
many tribes, and by his uncommon eloquence and 
address, roused his countrymen to arms against the 
United States. '• Tecumseh had received the 
stamp of greatness, from the hand of nature, and 
had his lot been cast in a different state of society, 
he would have shone as one of the most distinguish- 
ed of men. He was endowed with a powerful 
mind, and with the soul of a hero. There was an 
uncommon dignity in his countenance and manners, 
and by the former he could be easily distinguished, 
even after death, among the slain, for he wore no 
insignia of distinction." 



(110.) Battle of Niagara. 

On the 25th of July, 1814, Gen. Scott arrived 
at the Niagara cataract, and learned that the British 
were in force directly in his front, separated only 
by a narrow piece of wood. Having despatched 
this intelligence to Gen. Brown, he advanced upon 
the enemy, and the action commenced at six o'clock 
in the afternoon. Although Gen. Ripley, with the 
'^^ODd brigade, Major Hendraan, with the corps of 



199 

artillery, and Gen. Porter, with the volunteers, pres- 
-sccl ibrward with ardor ; it was an hour before they 
could be brought up to his support: during this time 
his brigade alone sustained the conflict. Gen. Scott 
had pressed through (he wood, and engaged the 
British on the Queenston road, with the 9th, llth., 
and 12(h regiments, the 25th having been thrown 
on the right. The fnsh troojxs, under Gen. Ripley, 
having arrived, now advanced to relieve Gen. Scott, 
who*>e exhausted brigade formed a reserve in the 
rear. The British artillery had taken post on a 
commanding eminence, at the head of Lundy's lane, 
supported by a line of infantry, out of the reach 
of the American batteries. This was the key of the 
whole position ; from kence they poured a most 
deadly fire on the American ranks. It became ne- 
cessary either to leave the ground, or to carry this 
post and seize the height. The latter desperate 
task was assigned to Col. Miller. On receiving 
the order from Gen. Brown, he calmly surveyed 
the position and answered, '*/ will try sii\''^ which 
expression was afterwards the motto of his regi- 
ment. The first regiment, under the command of 
Col. Nicholas, were ordered to menace the British 
infantry, and support Col. Miller in the attack. 
This corps, after a discharge or two, gave way and 
left him without support. Without regarding this 
occurrence, Col. Miller advanced coolly and stead- 
ily to his object, amid a tremendous fire, and at the 
point of the bayonet, carried the artillery and the 
height. The guns were immediately turned upon 
the enemy ; Gen. Ripley now brought up the 23d 
regiment to the support of Col. Miller ; the first re- 
giment v.as rallied and brought into line, and the 
British were driven from the hill. At this time Ma- 
jor Jcssup, v.'ith the 25th regiment, was engaged in 



200 

a most obstinate conflict, with all the British that I'je- 
mained on the field, lie had succeeded in turning 
ihe British left ilank. Capt. Ketchum, with a de- 
lachment of this regiment, succeeded in gnining 
the rear of the British lines at the point where Gen- 
erals Drummond and Riall, with their suites, had la- 
ken their stations, and made them ail prisoners. 
The British ofticers, mistaking this detachment for a 
company of their own men, were ordering them to 
to press on to the combat, when Capt. Ketchum 
step})ed forward, and coolly observed, that ho 
had the honor to command at that time, and im- 
mediately conducted the olRcers and their suites, in- 
to the rear of the American lines ; General Drum- 
mond, in the confusion of the scene made his escape. 
The British rallied under the hill, and made a des- 
perate attempt to regain their artillery, and drive 
the Americans from their position, but without suc- 
cess ; a second and third attempt was made with 
the like result. Gen. Scott was engaged in repelling 
these attacks, and though with his shoulder fractur- 
ed, and a severe wound in the side, continued at 
the head of his column, endeavoring to turn the en- 
emy's right ilank. The volunteers under Gen. Por- 
ter, during the last charge of the British, precipita- 
ted themselves upon the lines, broke them, and took 
a large number of prisoners. Gen. Brown, during 
the whole action, was at the most exposed points, 
directing and animating his troops. He received a 
severe wound on the thigh, and in the side, and 
would have given the command to Gen. Scolt, but 
on inquiring found that he was severely wounded. 
He continued at the head of his troops until the 
last eftbrt of the British was repulsed, when loss of 
blood obliged him to retire ; he then consigned the 
comrnand lo Gen. Rijilcy. At twelve o'clock, both 



iOi 

panics retired from the field, to their respective en- 
campmonts, fati^^^ucd and satiated with slaughter. 
The battle continued with little intermission, IVom 
six in the afternoon until twelve at night. After 
Col. Miller had taken the battery, and driven the 
British from the heights, and Gen. Riall and suite 
had been taken, there was a short cessation, and the 
enemy appeared to be about yielding the ground, 
when reinforcements arrived to their aid, and the 
fiattle was renewed with redoubled fury for another 
space of two hours ; much of this time the combat- 
ants wevQ within a few yards of each other, and sev- 
eral times, oflicers were found commanding enemy 
platoons, Capt. Spencer, aid to Gen. Brown, was 
de-spatched with orders to one of the regiments ; 
when about to deliver thciu, he suddenly found him- 
self in contact with a British corps; with great 
coolness and a firm air, he inquired v/hat regiment 
is this? On being ansu'(Ted, the Roijal Scolts, he 
immediately replied, Royal Scoits., remain as you are! 
the commandant of the corps, supposmg the orders 
eame from his commanding General, immediately 
halted his regiment, and Capt. Spencer rode off. 
Col. Miller's achievement, in storming the battery, 
was of the most brilliant and hazardous nature ; it 
was decisive of the events of (he battle, and enti- 
tled him and his corps to the highest apjjlause; 
most of ihc officers engaged in that enterprise were 
killed or wounded. The battle was fought to the 
west of, and within half a mile of the Niagara cat- 
aract. The thunder of the cannon, the roaring of 
the falls, the incessant discharge of m.uj^ketry, the 
groans of the dying and wounded duririg the >ix 
hours in which the parties were engaged in close 
combat, heightened by the circumstance of its being 
night, afforded such a scene, as is rarely to be met 



262 

with, in the history of human slaughter. The eve- 
ning was calm, and iho moon shone with lustre, 
when not enveloped in clouds of smoke froui the 
firing of the contending armies. Coiibidering the 
numbers engaged, few contests have ever been 
more sanguinary.* 

This was one of the most severe and bloody bat- 
tles, which was fought during the war, iiie British 
force cngag(^d in this battle amounted to 5,000 men : 
many of their troojjs were selected from the llower 
of Lord Wollinglon's army. The American lorce 
consisted of 4,000 men. — The loss of Americans in 
killed, wounded, and missing, was 860 men ; that of 
the British was 878 men. 



(111.) Burning of Washington City, 

In August, 1814, a body of about GOOO British 
troops, command<'d by Gen. Ross, landed at Bene- 
dict, on the Patuxent, 47 miles Irom Washmgton ; 
on the 21st of August, he marched to Nottingham. 
He met with little opposition on his njarch, until 
within about six miles of VVashingion, at Bhidens- 
burg. Mere Gen, Winder, with the American forces, 
composed mostly of militia, hastily collected, op- 
posed them. The Americans, however, lied at the 
beginning of the contest. Com. Barney, with about 
400 men, made a brave resistance; but the enemy, 
superior in numbers, compelled him to surrender. 

Leaving Bladensbm-gh, Gen. Ross went to Wash- 
ington, wiiere he arrived in the evening of the 23d 
of Aui;ust, about 8 o'clock, with 700 men, having left 
fhe main body about a mile and a half from the 

^Perkins' Late War. 



203 

Capitol. Immediately on his arrival, (jfeii, IvOi.S' 
issued orders to set on fire l!ie public buildings.* 

The Capitol and the President's house, two noble 
buildings, were burnt; the valuable libraries in the 
Capitol ivere also destroyed. The great Bridge 
across the Potomac — a splendid Hotel, and many 
other private buildings. 

On the 25th they retired by rapid marches, and 
regained their shipping, leaving behind them seve- 
ral oflicers of rank, and 130 non-commissioned offi- 
cers and privates, whose wounds did not admit of a 
removal. Their whole loss during this expedition 
was 400 in killed nnd wounded, besides 500 more, 
who were made prisoners or deserted. 



(112.) Baltic on Lake Champlain, 

In September, 1814, an army of 14,000 men, 
under the command of Sir George Pre vost. Governor 
General of Canada, and a licet on Lake Champlain, 

* According- to the account of a British officer, who was io 
this expedition, the sole object of the disembarkation was the 
destruction of tlie American flotilla. When lliat flotilla re- 
treated from Nottingham, Admiral Cockburn urged the ne- 
cessity of a pursuit, and finally prevailed on Gen. lloss to 
proceed on to attack Washington. When he arrived near 
the city. Gen. Ross sent in a flag of truce with terms. Hcarce- 
ly had the party with the flag entered the city, when they 
were fired upon from the windows of one of the houses. Two 
corporals of the 31st, and the horse of the General himself, 
who accompanied them, were killed. This outrage roused 
the indignation of every individual of the army. All thoughts 
of accommodation were instantly laid aside ; the troops ad- 
vanced forthwith into the city, and having first put to the 
sword all who were found in the house from whence the shots 
were fired, and reduced it to ashes, they proceeded without 
delay, to burn and <lrstroy every thing in the most distant 
degree cooaected with the goverumeot. 



204 

under Commodore Downie, carrying 05 guns, and 
1050 men, approached Plaltsburgh. 

The American fleet, commanded by Commodore 
Macdonough, carried but 86 guns, and 826 men. 
While lying off Plaltsburgh, on the Uth of Sep- 
tember, the British fleet bore down upon them in 
order of battle. 

Ordering his vessels to be cleared for action, 
Commodore Macdonough gallantly received the 
enemy. The engagement was exceedingly obsti- 
nate ; the enemy fought bravely ; but the superiori- 
ty of the American gunnery prevailed — they fired 
much oftencr than their enemies. After an engage- 
ment of two hours and twenty minutes, the British 
ships were silenced, and one frigate, one brig, and 
two sloops of war, fell into the hands of the Ameri- 
cans. Several British gallies were sunk, and a few 
others escaped. The Americans lost 52 killed, and 
58 wounded. The loss of the British was 84 killed, 
and 110 wounded. 

Sir Geo. Prevost, who commanded the land forces, 
commenced an attack upon the American works at 
Plattsburgh, at the same time that the fleets were 
engaged, but was compelled to retire by the Ame- 
ricans, under Gen. Macomb, with the loss of 2500 
men. 



(113.) Hartford Convention* 

During the second war with Great Britain, the 
people of the United States were divided into two 
political parties, one party condemning the war as 
unwise and unnecessary; the other contending that 
the war was just, and necessary for the maintenance 
pf national honor. The opposition to the war was 



206 

the greatest in the New-England States, and during 
its continuance this opposition was confirnied. En- 
listments of troops was in some instances discoura- 
ged, and dissentions arose between the general and 
State governments, respecting the command of the 
militia, called out by order of the former, to defend 
the sea-board. In October, 1814, the Legislature 
of Massachusetts appointed '' delegates to meet and 
confer '»vith the delegates from the States of New 
England, or any of them, upon the subjects of their 
public grievances and concerns. '^ The delegates 
met at Hartford, Con. Dec. 15th, 1814, and sat 
nearly tiiree weeks with closed doors. This Con- 
vention consisted of delegates from the States of 
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode-Island ; two 
members from New-Hampshire and one from Ver- 
mont: these last were appointed at County meet- 
ings. After their adjournment, the Convention pub- 
lished an address, charging the National g^overnment 
with pursuing measures hostile to the interests of 
New-England, and recommending amendments to 
the Federal Constitution. 

" These alterations consisted of seven articles — 
firsts that Representatives and direct taxes shall be 
apportioned to the number of free persons : — 
secondly^ that no new State shall be admitted into 
the Union without the concurrence of two thirds of 
both houses : — thirdly, that Congress shall not have 
power to lay an embargo for more than sixty 
ddi-ys:— fourthly, that Congress shall not interdict 
commercial intercourse, without the concurrence of 
two thirds of both houses '—fifthly, that war shall 
not be declared without the concurrence of a similar 
majority : — sixthly, that no person who shall be 
hereafter naturalized, shall be eligible as a member 
of the Senate or House of Representatives, or hold 
19 



i20t> 

any civil office under the authority of the United 
States : — and, seventhly, that no person shall be 
elected twice to the Presidency, nor the President 
be elected from the same State two terms in suc- 
cession. 

The report of the Convention concluded with a 
resolution, providing for the calling of another con- 
vention, should the United States " refuse their 
consent to some arrangement whereby the New 
England States, separately, or in concert, might be 
empowered to assume upon themselves the defence 
of their territory against the enemy," appropriating 
a reasonable proportion of the public taxes for this 
purpose ; or, " should peace not be concluded, and 
the defence of the New England States be neglected 
as it has been since the commencement of the war."* 

The committee appointed to conmuuiicate these 
resolutions to Congress, met al Washington the news 
of peace : and owing to this event another Con- 
vention was not called. The proposed amendments. 
of the Constitution w^ere submitted to the several 
States, and rejected by all except Massachusetts^. 
Rhode-Island, and Connecticut. 



(114.) GerirJciclison^s Victory at .Kew-Orleans^ 

In the month of Dec. 1814, fifteen thousand 
British troops, under Sir Edward Packenham, were 
landed for the attack of New-Orleans. The de- 
fence of this place was entrusted to Gen. Andrew 
Jackson, whose force was about 6000 men, chiefly 
raw militia. Several slight skirmishes occurred 
before the enemy arrived before the city : during 
this time Gen. Jackson was employed in makingi 
* Goodrich. 



^&7 ' " ' 

preparation for his defence. Ilis front was % 
straigfit line of 1000 yards, defended by upwards of 
three thousand Infantry and Artillerists. *l'he ditch 
contained five fe(^t of water, and liis front, from 
having been flooded by ofx-iiin^ the levees, and by- 
frequent rains, was rendered slippery and muddy. 
Eight distinct batteries were judiciously disposed, 
mounting in all 12 guns of different calibres. On 
the opposite side of the river was a strong battery 
of fifteen guns. 

On the 8th of January, Gen. Packenham, with 
u}) wards of 12,000 men, deliberately advarjced in 
solid colunms, to the attack, over an even plain, in 
li'ont of the American intrenchments^ his men carry- 
ing, besides their muskets, facines, and ladders. 
Entire silence prevailed through the American lines 
until the British were within reach of their batteries, 
when a destructive cannonade was opened ; yet 
they advanced, closing up their ranks as fast as they 
were opened by the ^wit of the Americans. But 
when within the reach of musketi-y and rifles, the 
Americans poured in such a tremendous and de- 
structive fire, that the British columns were literally 
swept away. Unable to stand the shock, confusion 
followed, and Gen. Packenham, in the attempt tp 
rally his troops, was killed. 

1'he two Generals, Gibbs and Kean, succeeded in 
pushing forward their coliJmns the second time, but 
this was more fatal than the first. The continued 
rolling fire from the American lines resembled peals 
of thunder. A few platoons only reached the ditch, 
lo meet a more certain destruction. 

A third attempt was made to lead up the troops, 
which proved equally unavailing. Gen. Gibbs and 
Kean were severely wounded, the former mortally. 

The plain before the American lines now pre- 



-208 

sented a wide field of blood. Seven hundred of the 
British were killed, I4OO wounded, and 500 were 
taken prisoners ; making the whole of their loss, 
nearly 3000 men. The loss of the Americans did 
not exceed seven killed, and they had only six 
wounded ! ! 

The enemy, soon after, with great secrecy, em- 
bai-ked on board their shipping, 



(115.) Bank of the United Skites. 

The Bank of the United States was established 
hy an act of Congress of April 10th, 1816, and con- 
tinues to March 3d, I S36. Its stock consists of three 
hundred and fifty thousand shares, of one hundred 
dollars each, constituting a capital of thirty-five mil- 
lions of dollars. Seventy thousand shares, or seven 
millions of the stock, was. taken by the United, 
States, and the remaining two hundred and eighty 
thousand shares, amounting to twenty. eight millions 
of dollars, by individuals, companies, &.C. Of this 
twenty-eight millions of dollars, seven was required 
by the charter to be paid in gold or silver coin, and 
twenty-one milhons in gold or silver coin, or funded 
debt of the United States. The property of the 
Bank, including its whole capital, is not to exceed 
?n value, fifty-five millions of dollars. 

The Bank is located in Philadelphia, governed 
by twenty-five Directors, chosen annually ; five of 
whom, being stockholders, are appointed by the, 
President of the United States, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate; and twenty are 
annually elected at the Banking-house, in Philadel- 
phia, by the qualified stockholders of the capital, 
(other thain the United States,) on the first Monday 



209 

of January. No person can be a Director in the 
Bank of the United States at the same time that he 
is a Director in any other Bank. At the first meet- 
ing after their election, the Directors choose a Pre- 
sident. The President is selected from the Di- 
rectors. 

The number of votes to which stockholders arc 
entitled, are, for one share and not more than two, 
one vote ; for every two shares above two, and not 
exceeding ten, one vote ; for every four shares 
"kbove ten, and not exceeding thirty, one vote 5 for 
every six shares above thirty, and not exceeding 
sixty, one vote; for every eight shares above sixty, 
and not exceeding one hnndred, one vote ; and for 
every ten shares above one hundred, one vote ; but 
no person, co-partnership, or body politic, is entitled 
to more than thirty votes. No share or shares con- 
fer the right of voting, that shall not have been held 
three calendar months previous to the day of elec- 
tion. No stockholders but those actually resident 
within the United Slates, can vote by proxy. 

By the act of March 3d, l<il9, it is provided that any per- 
son offering- more than thirty votes, including- those offered in 
jhis own rig-ht, and those offered by him as attorney, &c. the " 
judges of the election are required to administer an oath to 
the person so offering more than thirty votes, to the following 
effect : " That he h.is no interest, directly or indireqtly, in 
the shares upon which he offers to vote as attorney ; and that 
the shares are, to the best of bis knowledg-e and belief, truly, 
and in good faith, owned by the persons in whose names they 
stand at that time." No person is allowed to vote as proxy, 
-&C. without a power, witnessed with an oath, endorsed, and 
filed in Bank, that the giver of the proxy, " is the real and only 
owner of the shares specified«in the power of attorney, that 
fie owns no other shares ; that no other person has any inter- 
.est in the said shares, and that no other power, now in force, 
has been given to any other person, to vote at any election of 
Directors of the said Bank. Judges of elections, permitting 
any person to give more than thirty votes at one election-, 
20 



210 

without taking the oath prescribed by law, are subject to a. 
fine not exceeding- tv/o thousand dollars, or to imprisonment 
not exceeding- one year : and persons swearing- falsely, are 
liable to the pains and penalties for the punishment of wilful 
and corrupt perjury. 

Persons giving nrioney, or any thing, as a bribe, 
to procure the interest, &;c. of the President or any 
Director of the Bank, or the President or Director 
receiving such bribe, are forever disqualified from 
holding any office of honor, trust, or profit, under the 
Corporation, or under the United States. - 

Not more than three fourths of the Directors 
elected by the Stockholders, nor more than four- 
fifths of those appointed by the United States, shall 
serve two successive years ; no Director shall hold 
his office more than three years out of four in suc- 
cession ; but the Director who is President, may 
serve without limitation. 

None but a Stockholder, resident citizen of the 
United States, shall be a Director, nor shall be en- 
tUled to any emolument. 

Seven Directors may constitute a board, of whom 
the President shall always be one, unless unavoida- 
bly prevented, in which case his place may be sup- 
plied by any other Director whom he, by writing 
under his hand, may depute for that purpose. 

A number of Stockholders, not less than sixty, if 
proprietors of one thousand shares, have power to 
call a general meeting of the Stockholders, giving 
ten weeks notice in two newspapers of the place 
wher© the Bank is seated, and specifying the object 
of the meeting. 

The Cashier is required to give bond with two or 
more sureties, in a sum not less than fifty thousand 
dollars, as a security for the faithful performance of 
his duties. 



211 

The Lands, &c. lawful for the Bank to hold, is 
only for its immediate accommodation in business, 
or mortgaged to it as security or satisfaction for 
debts previously contracted, or purchased at sales > 
upon judgments for such debts. 

The total amount of debts, of every description, 
which the Bank shall at any time owe, must not ex- 
ceed thirty-five millions of dollars, unless authorised 
hy law to exceed that amount. In case of excess, 
■the Directors under whose administration it takes 
place, fwe liable in their private capacities. This 
provision, however, does not exempt the property of 
the Bank from being, also, liable. Directors who 
may disseni, or be absent, when such excess is crea- 
ted, on giving notice thereof to the President of the 
United States, and to the Stockholders, are exone- 
rated from such liability. 

The Bank is prohibited from dealing- or trading- in any 
thing-, except bills of exchange, goid and silver buiiion, or 
sales of goods pledged for moneys lent by ihe Bank, it can-T 
not become the purchaser of an\^ public debt, nor take more 
than six per centum per annum for or upon its loans or dis- 
counts. 

The Bank cannot loan more than five hundred thousand 
dollars to the United States; or to any particular State ao 
amount exceeding titty tliousand dollars ; or to any foreign 
Prince or State, unless previously authorised by a law of the 
United States. 

The Stock is assignable and transferrable, according to 
rules established \^' the Bank. 

Bills obligatory and of credit, under the seal of the Bank, 
made to any person, are assignable by the endorsement of 
such person. But the Bank is prohibited from making any 
bill obligatory, &c. under its seal, for a sum less than five 
thousand dollars. All hills issued by order of ihe Bank, and 
signed by the President and Cashier, are bidding as if made 
by priva.te persons. All bills or notes so issued, are payable 
on demand, except such as are lor the piyment of a sum not 
less than one hundred dollars, wbioh may be made payable to 
ofder, at any time not exceeding sixty days from date. 



212 

Half-yearly dividends of the profits may be made. And 
once in three years the Directors must lay before the Stock- 
holders an exact and particular statement of the situation of 
the Bank. 

The Directors of the Bank are authorised to es- 
tabhsh Offices of Discount and Deposite whereso- 
ever they shall think fit, within the United States, or 
the Territories thereof. Or, instead of establishing 
such offices, it is lawful for the Directors to employ 
any other Bank or Banks, to be first approved by 
the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, 
to transact business other than discounting. Not 
more than thirteen, nor less than seven Directors of 
every Office of Discount and Deposite, shall be an- 
nually ap[)ointed by the Directors of the Bank, to 
serve for one year : each shall be a citizen of the 
United States, and a resident of the State or Terri- 
tory where the Office is established : not more than 
Ihree-fourths of those in office, shall be appointed 
for the next succeeding year ; and no Director caa 
hold his office more than three years out of four in 
succession ; but the President may be always re^ 
appointed. 

The Secretary of the Treasury of the United 
States, must be furnished, as often as he gpay require, 
not exceeding once a week, with full statements of 
the concerns of the Bank, and ho has a right to exa- 
mine such of the books of the Bank as relate to said 
statement. 

No Stockholder, unless he be a citizen of the 
United States, has a vote in the choice of Directors. 

No note can be issued of less amount than five 
dollars. 

If the Bank, or any person on its account, shall 
deal or trade, in any respect coiitrary to its charter, 
every person concerned as agent or party therein, 



21S 

Vnall forfeit treble the value of the goods, &:c. in 
which such dealing shall have been ; one half there- 
of to the informer, the other to the United States ; to 
be recovered in any action of lavv^, with costs of suit. 
The bills or notes of the Bank, are receivable in 
all payments to the United States, until otherwise 
directed by act of Congress. 

The Banks must, whenever required by the Secretary of 
the Treasury, give the necessary facilities for transferring- the 
public funds from place to place, within the United States, for 
♦he payment of public creditors, without charging- commis- 
sions ; and also perform the duties of Commissioners of Loans. 

The deposites of moneys of the United States, in places in 
which the Bank or its branches are established, must be made 
in the Bank or its branches, unless the Secretary of the 
Treasury shall otherwise direct ; in which case he must im- 
mediately lay before Congress, if in session, and if not, imme- 
diately after the commencement of the next session, the rea- 
sons of such direction. 

The Bank is prohibited from suspending pay- 
ments in specie. Iji case of suspension^ the holder 
of any bill, &c. can recover the amount thereof, and 
until it is paid, is entitled to interest at the rate of 
twelve per centum per annum. 

Forging, counterfeiting, &c. the Notes, &,c. of the Bank, is 
felony, and punishable by imprisonment and hard labor, or im- 
prisonment and fine. 

Jf any person shall engrave, or have in his possession, any 
metallic plate, similar to the plates from which the notes, &c. 
of the Bank are printed, or shall cause or suffer the same to 
be used, &c. shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to imprison- 
ment at hard labor not exceeding five years, or imprisoned not 
exceeding five years, and fined in a sum not exceeding one 
thousand dollars. 

No Other Bank shall be chartered by Congress 

during tlie continuance of the charter of the Bank 

of the United States, except within the District of 

Columbia. And the Corporation of the Bank shall 

20* 



214 

exist for two years after the expiration of its charter, 
for the close of its concerns. 

Committees of either House of Congress have 
power to inspect the books of the Bank, and to ex- 
amine into its- proceedings, &:c. and whenever there 
is reason to believe the charter has been violated, a 
scire facias may be sued out of the Circuit Court for 
the District of Pennsylvania, in the name of the 
United States, and the Bank compelled to show 
cause why the charter should not be declared for- 
feited ; and it is lawful for the said Court to examine 
into the truth of the alleged violation, and if such 
violation be made appear, then to pronounce the 
charter forfeited. The final Judgment of the Court 
aforesaid is examinable in the Supreme Court of the 
United States. — l^orcePs National Calendar, 1823, 



(116.) Piracies in the West Indies-^ 

The American commerce had for several years, 
suffered severely, in consequence of the depreda- 
tions committed by pirates. The West Indian Seas 
were infested with these marauders, and transactions 
of the most flagrant and outrageous character had 
become frequent. Great quantities of property 
were seized by them, and their captives were often 
murdered in the most inhuman manner. They re- 
spected no law, and the flag of no nation.. An event 
occurred in 1822, which excited general attention, 
and showed that the evil had become so alarming as 
to call loudly for the strong arm of Government to. 
interpose for the protection of its citizens. The AI-. 
ligator, United States schooner, was about entering 
the harbor of Matanzas, when information was re-, 
r^eived that two American vessels, which the pirate^. 



215- 

had just captured, were lying a short distance frora 
that place. The Alligator was immediately ordered 
to their relief. An engagement with the pirates en- 
sued, in which the Americans were victorious. 
They recaptured five American vessels which were 
m possession of the pirates, and took one piratical 
schooner. But Allen, the brave commander of the 
Alligator, was wounded in the engagement, and died 
in a few hours. His death excited much feeling 
throughout the United States.. 

-The pirates made the island of Cuba their general 
rendezvous, and they carried their depredations to 
such an extent, that it was extremely dangerous for 
vessels to enter or leave the port of Havana. Con- 
gress at length passed a law appropriating a sum of 
money to fit out an expedition for the suppression 
of piracy. Commodore Porter, to whom was given 
the command of this expedition, sailed for the West 
Indies, and after touching at Porto Rico, arrived at 
Matanzas with a squadron consisting of a steam- 
frigate, eight schooners, and five barges. No cap- 
tures were made by this squadron, as the pirates had 
obtained knowledge of their movements ; but the 
object of their going out was accomplished in the 
protection afforded to commerce. The American 
squadron remained near the islands, and afforded 
convoys to merchant vessels ; and in consequence 
of this protection of the sea, the pirates were com- 
pelled to remain upon the islands, where they com- 
mitted depredations upon the inhabitants. But one 
vessel was taken from the Americans during this 
time, and that was recaptured by Commodore- 
Porter Willard's HisL U. S^ 



216 



(ll7.) Western Jlntiquities, 

The numerous remains of ancient fortifications, 
mounds, &;c. found in the Western States, are the 
admiration of the curious, and a matter of much 
speculation. 

They are mostly of an oblong form, situated on 
well chosen ground, and near the water. 

One of the fortifications or towns at Marietta, 
(Ohio,) contains forty acres, accompanied by a wall 
of earth from six to ten feet high. On each side are 
three openings at equal distances, resembling gate- 
ways. The works are undoubtedly very ancient, 
as there does not appear to beany difference in the 
age or size of the timber growing on or within the 
walls, and fehat which grows without; and the In- 
dians have lost all tradition respecting them. Dr. 
Culler, who accurately examined the trees on the 
works at Marietta, thinks from appearances, that 
they are on the second growth, and that the works 
must have been built upwards of 1000 years. 

At a convenient distance from these works al- 
ways stands a mound of earth, thrown up in the form 
of a pyramid. Upon examination some of these 
mounds are found to contain an immense number of 
human skeletons. 

The ancient works on the western branches of 
the Muskingum river, extend nearly two miles, the 
ramparts of which are now in some places more 
than eighteen feet in perpendicular height. There 
must have been a dense population to have erected 
such works as these, and a people more devoted to 
labor, than the present race of Indians. 

The most probable conjecture respecting these 
people is, that they were of Tartar origin, and 
G'ame across to this continent near Beering's Straits?. 



217 

and going southward, followed the course of the 
great rivers — finding the soil fruitful on the Ohio and 
Mississippi, resided there for a while, till at length fol- 
lowing each other they established themselves in the 
warm and fertile vales of Mexico. 



(118.) Erie Canal, 

^This Grand Cnnal, the longest in the world, (if we 
except the Irnporial Canal of China,) was commen- 
ced July 4th, 1817, and completed Oct. 26iJi, I8;.'5, 
at the expense of about eight millions' of dollars. 

This Canal extends from Albany on the Hu ison, 
to Buffalo on Lake Erie, a distance of 350 miles. 
From the Lake to the River there is generally a de- 
scent, though in some places there is an ascent : so 
that the aggregate of rise and {'all is 6G2 feet, and 
the difference of level between the Lake and River 
is 564 feet. 

The Canal is 40 feet wide on the surface, 28 at the 
"bottom, and 4 feet dee}>. It contains 80 locks, with 
several considerable embankments and aqueducts. 
Il is the property of the State of New York, and 
will probably afford a large revenue for public pur- 
poses. 

When the Canal was completed, October 26, a 
Canal Boat from Lake Erie entered the Canal, 
which event was annouiiced by the firing of cannon 
placed at suitable disrances, from Lake Erie to the 
city of New York, and from thence back again to 
Lake Erie, 

On the 5th of November, when the Cnnal Boat ar- 
rived at the city of N' mv York, thp day was celebra- 
ted by splendid processions, military parades, <Sjc. 



21* 

In the aquatic procession, which accompanied 
the Canal boat from New-York to Sandy Hook, 
wt^re 22 Sleam boars and Barges. When they ar- 
rived at the Hook, Governor Clinton went through 
the ceremony of uniting the waters, by pouring that 
of Lake Erie into the Atlantic. 



(119.) Gen, La Fayette's Visit. 

Gilbert "Mottie La Fayette, the Marquis de La 
Fayette, Aoierica's early and tried friend, was born 
on the 6th of September, 1757, in the province of 
Airoerne, now the department of Haute Loire, in 
France, about 400 miles from Paris. 

He sprang from the ancient and illustrious family 
of Moltie, which, for several centuries past, has add- 
ed the name o\ La Fayette. In 1774, at the age of 
seventeen, he was married to the Countess Armstasie 
de Noailles, daughter of the Duke de Noailles. The 
fortune of this lady, added to his own, increased his 
income to about 4:-,000 dollars annually ; an im- 
mense revenue at that period. 

The contest between Great Britain and her North 
American Colonies, was a subject of much interest 
to the nations of Europe, especially to the French 
people. The Marquis La Fayette, fired with enthu- 
siastic ardor in the cause of Liberty, tore himself 
from an affectionate family and the honors of the 
Court, and notwithstanding the prohibition of the 
French Court, embarked for Afnerica in January, 
1777, and entered the American army as a volun- 
teer, without compensation. The American Con- 
gress, struck with his magnanimity, gave him the 
commission of a Major Genera J in the army of the 
United States, 



219 

His gallant conduct at the battle of Brandywihc, 
(where he was wounded,) and at many other places 
till the close of the war, proved him worthy of the 
confidence placed in him. 

La Fayette likewise gave large sums for the pur- 
pose of clothing and arming the American troops. 

After the close of the revolutionary war, La Fay- 
ette returned to France, where he was appointed 
commander of the French armies. During the furi- 
ous and bloody storm of the French Revolution, he 
was obliged to flee, and surrender himself to the Aus- 
trians, who imprisoned him in the castle oi OlmutZs 

Having suftered a rigorous imprisonment for five 
years, he was through the influence of Buonaparte 
(afterwards Emperor of France) released on the 
25th of August, 1797. 

After an absence of forty years. General La 
Fayette determined once more to visit the country 
of his adoption. Congress hearing of his determi^ 
nation, offered a public ship for the conveyance of 
.the " Nation's Guest," but he politely declined 
their offer, and chose a private conveyance. He, 
accordingly, with his son, George Washington La 
Fayette, embarked at Havre, on board the ship 
Cadmu?, and arrived at New-York, Aug. 16, 1824. 

He was received with enthusiastic demonstrations 
of joy, by all classes of the American people. From 
New- York he proceeded by land*to Boston, passing 
through New-Haven, and Providence. From Bos- 
ton he proceeded to Portsmouth, N. H. from whence 
he returned to Boston, and New-York, passing 
throu2;h Worcester, Hartford, and Middletown. 
From New-York he went up the Hudson, visiting 
Albany and other places on the river. Returning to 
New-York, he proceeded on to Philadelphia, Balti- 
fjiore, and Washington. Here he was received by 



220 

the House of Representatives and Senate of the Uni- 
ted States, who voted him two hundred thousand 
dollars and a township of land, for the important ser- 
vices rendered by him during the Revolutionary war. 

General La Fayette commenced his tour from 
Washington, through the southern and western 
States, and returned to Albany by the way of Buf- 
falo and the Grand Canal. From Albany he pro- 
ceeded through Springfield, to Boston, where he ar- 
rived on the 16th of June, and was received by the 
Legislature of Massachusetts, then in session. On 
the 1 7th he was present at the ceremoay of laying 
the foundation stone of the Bunker Hill Monument. 
He then visited the States of New-Hampshire, Maine, 
and V^ermont, and returned to New-York to partici- 
pate in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of 
American Independence. 

He took his final leave of New-York, July 14th, 
visited the Ex-Presidents in Virginia, and soon after 
embarked for France, on board the frigate Brayidy- 
wine, followed with the grateful benedictions of the 
American people. 



Olii© 




£7-7^ ranal 




(>n. Lii Favette's l^tt 



A 

CHRONOLOGICAL. TABLE^ 

OF THE 

DISCOVERIES, SETTLEMENTS, WARS, AND RE- 
MARKABLE EVENTS, 

IN THE 

UNITED STATES* 



DXSCOVSRISS A.1TJ} SETTZiBMUlTTS. 

t492 America first discovered by Columbus. 

1497 North America first discovered by Sebastian Cabot, a 
Venetian, in the service of England. 

1512 John Ponce de Leon discovered and named Florida, 
from its being discovered on Easter day, or feast of 
flowers. 

1528 P. de Narvaez, with 400 men, lands in Florida, and at- 
tempts the conquest of the country. He is defeated 
by the natives. 

1535 Cartier, a Frenchman, first attempts a settlement in 
Canada. 

1539 Ferdinand de Soto, a Spaniard, landed in Florida, with 
1200 men, in search of gold. He penetrated into the 
country, and discovered the Mississippi. 

1562 Ribault, with a colony of French Protestants, began a 
settlement on the Edisto. It was abandoned. 

1584 Sir Walter Raleigh obtains a patent for making dis- 
coveries. 
Araadas and Barlow, by order of Raleigh, landed on 
Woconon and Roanoke. On their return, QueeB 
Elizabeth named the country Virginia. 

15B5 Sir R. Grenville sent with 7 vessels to settle Virginia* 
A colony left at Roanoke, under Gov. Lane. Tk^ 
colony returned to England the next year. 
1 



if CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. 

1586 Grenville left a second colony at Roanoke, which was 

destroyed by the natives. 

1587 A third colony, under Gov. White, left at Roanoke- 

Gov. White returned to ling-land for supplies. He 
came back in 1590, but not finding the men he had 
left, he returned to England. 
1602 Bartholomew Gosnoid sailed to America, named Cape 
Cod, discovered Martha's Vineyard, and the adjacent 
Islands, built a fort and store-bouse, but returned to 
England the same year. 

1607 Capt. Newport arrived in Virginia, and began the first 

permanent British settlement in North America, at 
Jamestown, in Virginia. 

1608 Capt. Smith first explored the Chesapeake. 

Canada settled by the French, Quebec founded July 3d, 

1610 Capt. Henry Hudson, an Englishman, in the service of 

the Dutch, discovers the Manhattan, now HudsoQ 
river. 

1611 Champlain, a Frenchman, discovered the lake which 

now hears his name. 
1614 Capt. bmith made a Ashing voyage to the northern part 
of America. Made a chart of the coast, which he 
presented to Prince Charles, who named the country 
JSTew England. 
Settlements commenced by the Dutch, at Manhattan, 
now New- York, at Albany, and in New-Jersey. 

1619 Capt. Dermer, the first Engli hman who sailed through 

Long-Island Sound. 

1620 Plymouth settlers arrived at Plymouth, Dec. 22. 

1623 First settlement of New-Hampshire, at Dover, and at 

Little Harbor. 
1627 Delaware and Pennsylvania settled by the Swedes and 

Fins. 

1629 Salem settled by Gov. Endicott. 

1630 Charlestown, Boston, Watertown, and Dorchester, set<^ 

tied by Gov. Winthrop and others. 
1633 Maryland settled by Lord Baltimore and a colony of 
Roman <^atholics. 
The Dutch erect a fort on Connecticut river, in the 

present town of Hartford. 
The Plymouth people erect a trading house in the 
present town of Windsor, Con. 
iS34 Wethersfield, Con. settled by people from Dwchesteiri 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. lU 

1.G35 Windsor settled by people from Dorchester. 

Saybrook fort built by J. Winthrop's men. 
1636 Hartford settled by iVlr. Hooker and his cong-reg-ation. 
Providence, K. I. settled and named by Kog-er Williams. 
1638 New Haven settled by Messrs. Davenport, Eaton, and 
others. 
Exeter, Nev7-Hampshire, founded. 
}639 Newport, Rhode-Island, settled. 

Milford, Guilford, Stratford, and Saybrook, in Con.- 
settled. 
1640 Southampton, on Long-Jsland, settled by people from 

Lynn, Mass. 
>1642 T. Mcxyhew and others settle Martha's Vineyard, 
1648 New- London, Con. settled. 
1654 Col. Wood, of V^irg-inia, sent a company of men to ex* 

plore the country of the Ohio. 
1658 Northampton and Hadley, Mass. settled by people from 
Connecticut. 

1663 Carolina planted. 

1664 Elizabethtown, New-Jersey, settled. 

1665 Sir J. Yeamans settled o". the southern banks of Cape 

Fear river, with a colony from Barbadoes. 
1677 Burlington, N. J. settled by a number of families from 

Yorkshire, Eng-. 
1680 Charleston, South-Carolina, settled. 

1682 Pennsylvania settled by William Penn and other*, 

Philadelphia founded. 

1683 Geriuantown, Pa. settled by a number of Quakers from 

German}'. 
1682 M. de la Salle descended the Mississippi to its mouthy 

took possession of the country in the name of Louis 

14th, the French King", and named the country 

Louisiana. 
1692 A fort byilt at Pemaquid by Sir William Phips. 
1702 The French send colonies into Louisiana. 
1710 2700 Palatines, from Germany, arrived and settled in 

New- York and Pennsylvania. 
1717 New-Orleans founded by the French. 
1 7 22 Gov Burnet, of N. Y. erects a trading- house at Oswegh, 
1723 First settlement in Vermont. 
1"24 Trenton, N. J. founded by William Trent. 
1731 Fort at Crown Point built by the French. 
1733 Georgia seftie.i by Mr. Og-lethorpe and others; 
A colony of Swiss came to Carolinah 



■iV •HRONOLOGieAL TABLE, 

1740 Tennessee explored by Col. Wood, Patton, Br. Walker 

and others. 

1741 The Moravians, or United Bretkrm^ beg-an the settle- 

ment of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 
1749 Halifax, Nova Scotia, settled by the British. 
1756 Fort Loudon, on the Tennessee river, built. 

1764 A large body of German settlers arrive in Garolin^. 

1765 The settlement of Tennessee commenced. 

1771 Nootka Sound, the north-west coast of America, disco- 
vered by Capt. Cook. 

1773 Kentucky settled by Col. Boon and others. 

1774 Connecticut formed a township on the Susquehanna, 

40 miles square, called Westmoreland, and annexed 
it to the county of Litchfield. 

1787 — 8 Twenty thousand settlers, men, women, and chil- 
dren, passed the Musking-um river in Ohio. 

1804 Capt. Lewis and Clarke explored the Missouri to its 
source, crossed the Rocky mountains, arrived at the 
Pacific Ocean in November, 1805, returned to the 
United States in 1806. 

.1812 First house in Rochester, N. Y. built 



IXTAZtS, MILITAIL^ EVENTS, &0 

1614 The Dutch built a fort at Manhattan, (near New- York.) 

1622 The Indians massacred 319 of the Virginia colonists^ 

March 22. 
Narrag-ansett Indians threaten war. 

1623 Massasoit disclose.-^ an Indian conspiracy. 

1634 The ladians in Connecticut began hostilities. 

1635 Fort built at Say brook, Con. 

1637 War with the Pequots in Connecticut ; their fort taken 

by surprise and destroyed. May 26. 

1638 Uncas, sachem of the Mohegans, makes a treaty with 

the English. 

1642 The Dutch Fort at Hartford, seized by the inhabit- 

ants of Connecticut. 
Indian war in Maryland. 

1643 War between the Mohegans and Narragansetts. 

1645 Action between a New England ship, and an Irisk 

man of war. 

1646 Battle fought between the Dutch and Indians, near the 

confines of Connepticut ; great numbers slain (Jn 
both sideff« 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE* V 

1651 Dutch trading house on the Delaware taken by the 
Swedes. 

1654 The Iroquois Indians exterminate the Eries. 

The Dutch extirpate the Swedes from the Delaware. 

1664 JN'ew York and Albany taken Irom the Dutch. 

1669 War between the IN. England Indians and the Mohawks 

1673 INew York and xNew Netherlands taken by the Dutch-- 
they were restored to the English, the next year. 

1675 King Philip''s War commenced; action at Swanzey, 
June; Brookfield burnt, Deertield burnt, Sept. 1 ; 
Hadley assaulted ; Springfield burnt ; Capt. Lathrop, 
with SO men, surprised by the Indians — almost eve- 
ry man slain, September 18. 
Gov. Winsiow, with 1000 men, attacked the Narragan- 
setts, (the alHes of Philip,) in their fort : the fort de- 
stroyed, and their country ravaged, December. 

1876 Lancaster burnt ; Capt. Pierce and his company, slain; 
Capt. Wadsworth, and about 50 of his men killed ; 
Fall fight — the Indians surprised in the night, — they 
lost 300 men, women, and children. May 18; Hat- 
field and Hadley attacked. 
King Philip killed, August 12 — which ends the war. 
Bacon's Insurrection in Virginia; Jamestown burnt. 

1677 Insurrection in Carolina; the insurgents exercised au- 

thority for two years in that colony. 

1678 Fort built at Pemaquid ; treaty at Casco with the In- 

dians. 

1686 Port Royal, Carolina, broken up by the Spaniards from 

St. Augustine. 

1687 The French, under Denonville, make war upon the 

Seneca Indians. 
1683 Gov. A ndros' expedition against the eastern Indians. 

1690 A body of French and Indians, from Montreal, burn 

Schenectady, and massacre the inhabitants, Feb. 8. 
Salmon Falls surprised by the French and Indians. 
Casco fort destroyed ; fort at Pemaquid taken 
Port Royal taken by Sir William Phips — he makes 

an expedition against Quebec, but is unsuccessful. 

1691 Major Schuyler, with a party of Mohawks, attacks the 

French settlements on Lake Champlain. 

1692 The French and Indians attack York and WeJIs. 

1693 Count Fronteoac, Governor of Canada, makes an ex- 

pedition against the Mohawks. 
3694 Gor. Fletcher makes a treaty with the Five Nations' 
2 



VI CilR0>"OL0GICAL TABLE; 

1696 The French destroy the fort at Pemaquid and lay 

waste Nova Scotia. 
1700 Carolina infested with Pirates. 

1702 Gov. Moore's expedition ag-ainst the Spaniards, at St. 

Augustine — it proves abortive. 

1703 Gov. Moore subdues the Apalachian Indians. 

1704 Deerfield burnt and most of the inhabitants carried 

captive by the French and Indians, I'eb 28. 

1705 The French ravage Newfoundland. 

1706 The Spaniards and French invade Carolina — they are 

defeated. 

1707 The New England troops make an unsuccessful expe- 

dition against Port Royal. 

1708 Haverhill surprised by the French and Indians. 

1710 Port Royal, in Nova Scotia, tnken by General Nichol- 

son, Oct 2. 

1711 Expedition against Quebec — failed by the loss of trans- 

ports in the St. Lawrence, August. 
J712 War with the Tuscaroras in North Carolina — they 

are defeated. 
1715 A general conspiracy against the CaroUnians, by the 

Yamasees, Cherokees, and other tribes — Governor 

Craven attacks and defeats them in their camp. 
1719 Pensacola taken by the French from the Spaniards,. 
1724 "War with the eastern Indians. 
1730 The Natchez Indians extirpateil by the French. 
1736 The Chickasaw Indians defeat the French. 

1740 General Oglethorp, with 2,000 men, makes an unsuc- 

cessful expedition against St. Augustine. 

1741 Expedition against Cuba. 

1742 Spanish expedition against Georgia — failed. 

1745 Louisburg and Cape Breton taken by the New Engv 

land troops, aided by a British squadron, June 17. 

1746 French expedition under Duke D'Anville, which 

threatened New England, failed, by means of storms, 
sickness in the fleet, &c. 

1747 Saratoga village destroyed, the inhabitants massacred 

by the French and Indians, 

1753 The French erect forts on the back of the colonies. 

1754 Colonel Washington with 400 men, in fort Necessity 

surrendered to the French, July 4. 

1755 Expedition against Nova Scotia ; the French are sub- 

dued, the inhabitants bronght away and di^ersed 
'srmong' ihe colonrers; 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLCi ^J,i 

1'755 General Braddock defeated by the French and In- 
dians, July 9 
Battle of Lake Gcorg-e ; the French under baron Di- 
eskau defeated, Dieskau mortally wounded. Sept 8,, 

1756 Osweg-o taken by the French under Montcalm. 

1757 I'ort William Henry capitulated to the French, many" 

of the g-arrison massacred by the Indians. 

1758 Louisburg- taken by the British, July. 

General Abercrombie defeated at Ticonderoga with 

great loss ; Lord Howe killed, July. 
Fort Frontenac taken from the French by Colonel 

Bradstreet. 
Fort du Qucsne abandoned by the French, taken by 

the Eng-lish, and named Pittsburg-, Nov. 25. 

1759 Ticonderoga and Crown Point taken by Gen. Amherst 

Niag'ara taken by the Eng-lish, Gen. Prideaux killed 
The Eng-lish repulsed at Montmorency near Quebec. 
Battle of Quebec^ Gen. Wolfe, the Eng-lish command- 
er, and Montcalm, the French commander, killed ; 
the French defeated and Quebec taken, September, 

1760 M, de Levi attempts to recover Quebec, he is com^ 

pelled to retire. 
Montreal capitulated to the Eng-lish, September, and 

Canada is subdued. 
The Cherokecs take fort Loudon and treacherously 

massacre the g-arrison. 

1761 The Cherokecs defeated by Col. Grant and compelled 

to make peace. 

1762 Havana taken by the British and provincials. 

1763 Treaty of peace sig-ned at Paris between Great Brit-, 

ain and Franco; ( anada. Nova Hcotia, and Cape 
Breton, confirmed to ihe British king-. 
1768 Two British reg-imcnts stationed at Boston, Sept. 
1770 Massacie in Boston ; the British troops fired upon the 
inhabitants, and killed three and wounded five, 
March 5. 
1773 Tea thrown overboard at Boston, December 16. 
1775 Battle at Lexington-, which beg-an the revolutionary 
war, April 19. 
Ticonderog-a taken by Col. Allen, May 10. 
George Washington appointed commander in chief of 
the American array, June 15, took command of the^ 
troops investing- Boston, July 2. 
Generals Howe, Clinton, and Burg-oyne, with a Te\v>: 



^Viii GHROKOLOOIC^AL TlBXEi 

forcement from Eng-land arrived at BostoQ) May ^^,, 
BaUle of Bunker I-J illy June 17. 
General Monlg-omery penetrated into Canada, took 

fort Chambiee, St. John's, and Montreal, Nov. 
Colonel Ethan Allen captured near Montreal and sent 

in irons to England. 
Colonel Arnold, with 3,000 men, penetrates through 

the wilderness to Canada. 
Assault upon Quebec; General Montgomery killed^ 

and the Americans defeated, December 31. 

1776 Norfolk, Va. burnt by the British, January 1. 
Boston evacuated by the British, March 17. 
Loyalists defeated in North Carolina by general 

Moore, Febuary 27. 
Blockade of Quebec raised by the Americans, May 5. 

A body of Americans at the Cedars surrendered, May. 

The Americans evacuate Canada, June 18. 

The British defeated in their attack on Sullivan's Isl- 
and, July 20. 

General Howe and Admiral Lord HoAve, with 24,000 
men arrive at Sandy Hook, June. 

declaration of Lidepcndence, July 4. 

Battle on Long Island, August 27. 

American army withdrawn from Long- Island, Aug. 30. 

Captain Nathan liale, of Con. executed as a spy. 

New York evacuated by the Americans, taken posses- 
sion of by the British, September 15. 

General Arnold defeated on Lake Champlain, Oct. 12. 

Battle at the White Plains, October 28. 

Fort Washington taken with about 2,000 prisonere,^ 
November 16. 

Fort Lee evacuated, November 10. 

Americans attack fort Cumberland, Nova Scotia, but 
are repulsed, November 20. 

American army retreated through New Jersey, and 
crossed the Delaware, pursued by the British, No- 
vember and December. 

The British take possession of Rhode Island, Dec. 8. 

Congress adjourn to Baltimore, December 12. 

General Lee s»jrprised and taken prisoner, Dec . 

Battle of Trenton, 1000 Hessians taken, Dec. 26. 

1777 Battle at Princeton, General Mercer killed, Jan. 3. 
W^ashington retires to Morristown. 

More thrin 20,000 stands of arms and lOQO barrels (ff: 
powder ai'rive from France. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLfi. JX 

Daiibury Con. burnt, General Wooster killed, April 28. 
Colonel Meigs crosses over to Lon^ Island from Con. 
and captures 90 of the British, without the loss of a 
man, May 23. 
General Prescott surprised and taken prisoner by Co- 
lonel Barton, of Rhode Island. 
Battle of Brandywine, General Lafayette wounded, 

September 11. 
General Wayne surprised and defeated with the loss 

of about 300 men, Feptember 28. 
The British takep ossession of Philadelphia, September 

27. 
Ticonderog-a evacuated by the Americans, July 6* 
Battle at Bennington, August. 
Battle of Germantown, October 4. 
Burgoyne encamps at Saratoga, September 14. 
General Burgoyne surrendered to General Gates, Octo- 
ber 17. 
Assault on Red Bank ; British defeated ; Count Donop 
killed. 
3778 Treaty of Alliance, with France, signed, Feb. 6. 
The British evacuate Philadelphia, June 18. 
Battle of Monmouth ; many soldiers died of the heat, 

June 28. 
Count D'Estaing arrives with a French fleet off New 

port, July. 
Massacre at Wyoming, July. 

Battle on Rhode Island, August 29 ; Americans re- 
treat from Rhode Island, August 30. 
Paul Jones' Naval Battle, on the coast of Scotland, 

Sept. 22. 
Col. Bayton's regiment of Cavalry surprised by Gen. 

Grey, Sept. 28. 
Expedition of the Americans against East FloridSj 

failed. 
Savannah taken by the British, under Col. Campbell, 

Dec. 29. 

The American Frigate Randolph, of 36 guns, and 300 

men, blown up in an engagement; otily 4 n»en saved. 

•T1779 Gen. Ash surprised and defeated by the British at 

Brier Creek with the loss of 300 men, March 3. 

Engagement at Rtono Ferry ; Americans obliged to 

retreat, June 20. 
Unsuccessful assault on Savannah ; Count Pula«ki, a 
3 



X CHRONOLOGICAL TABLt, 

Polish officer in the service of the Americans, mc/r^ 

tally wounded, October 9 
The British make incursions into Virg-inia; propertj' 

to an immense amount destroyed. 
The British plunder New Jersey, June. 
Gov. Tryon invades and plunders New Haven, July 5 : 

Fiiirfield and Norwalk burnt. 
Stony Point taken by Gen. Wayne, July 15. 
The Americans made an unsuccessful attempt against 

the British post at Penobscot. 
Gen. Sullivan ravag-es the country of the Six Nations. 

1780 Gen. Lincoln capitulated and Charleston, S. C. sur- 

rendered to Sir Henry Clinton, May 12- 

Col. Bnford defeated at the Wexhaws by the British 
under Col. Tarleton ; the Americans lost about 300 
men, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, May 29. 

Col. Sumpter defeats a party of British at Williamson's 
plantation, July 12 ; and a body of Tories at Hang- 
ing- Rock, August 6. 

Gen. Rochambeau arrives at Newport, R. I. with a 
French fleet and army, July 10. 

Battle of Camden ; the Americans under Gen. Gates 
defeated August 16 ; Baron de Kalb, a German offi- 
cer, killed. 

Gen. Sumpter surprised and defeated by Col. Tarleton, 
August 18. 

Treason of Arnold ; Major Andre taken and execu- 
ted, October 2. 

Action at Kings Mountain; the British and Tories, un- 
der Major Furguson, defeated with the loss of 150 
killed, and 800 prisoners, October 7. 

Incursion of the British Gen. Kniphausen, into New 
Jersey; action near Springfield, N J. June 23. 

1781 Mutiny in the Pennsylvania line of troops, Jan. 1. 
Gen. Greene takes command of the southern Ameri- 
can army. 

Battle of the Cowpens ; Gen. Morgan defeats Col. 

Tarleton, January 17. 
Battle of Guilford, N. C. between Gen Greene, and 

Lord Cornwallis, March 15. 
Gen. Marion takes fort Watson, April 23. 
Fort Cornwallis, at Augusta, taken June 5. 
Gen. Greene lays siege to Ninety Six, but is repulse^, 

June 18. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. Ifil 

I'be combindd armies under Gen. Washington, decamp 
from the Hudson and march for Virginia, August 19. 

New London, Con, l>urnt, fort Griswold stormed, and 
the garrison put to the sword by Arnold, Septem- 
ber 8. 

Battle of Eutaw Springs; Gen. Greene defeats the 
British, with the loss of 1000 men, September 8. 

Lord Cornwallis pursues the Marquis de La Fayette, 
in Virginia. 

Count de Grasse, with a French fleet, and 3,200 troops, 
enters the Chesapeake, September. 

Yorktown invested, and batteries opened against it, 
October 9. 

The British army under Lord Cornwallis, surrendered 
at Yorktown, Va., to Gen Washington, October 19 ^ 
this event decided the Revolutionary war. 

1782 The British evacuate Savannah, July. 

Provisional articles of peace, signed. Independence of 
the United States acknowledged, November 30. 

1783 Definitive treaty signed, Septembers. 
The army disbanded, October 18. 

Farewell address of Gen. Washington to the army, 

November 2. 
Gen. Washington resigned his commission, Dec. 23. 

1790 Gen. Harmer defeated by the Indians in Ohio. 

1791 Gen. St. Clair defeated by the Indians, 

1794 Gen. Wayne gains a decisive victory over the Indians 
on the Miami, August 20. 

1797 Collisions with the French Republic. 

1798 Gen, Washington appointed to command the armies 

of the United States. July 7. 

1799 Capt. Truxton, in the Constellation, took the French 

Frigate Insurgent, February 10. 

1 800 Treaty of Peace with France, September 30. 
1803 War with Tripoli. 

1004 Com. Preble makes an ineffectual attack on Tripoli. 

1805 Gen. Eaton, takes possession of Derne, a Tripolitan 
city, and a peace with Tripoli soon after ensues. 
The American frigate Chesapeake fired into by the 
British frigate Leopard, off the capes of Virginia, 4 
men killed, and 16 wounded, June 22. 

1809 Non-intercourse with Great Britain and France, estab- 
lished by Congress, March 1. 

i^M Engagement between the Amrrican frigate President, 



1807 



XU CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE*. 

Capt. Rogers and Ihe British sloop of war LittJe Feli; 

Capt. Bing-ham, May. 
Battle of Tippacanoe between Gen. Harrison and the 

Indians, November 7. 
J312 I>e§taration of War by the United States, against 

Great Britain, June 18. 
Gen. Hull surrendered his army, and the fort of De- 
troit to the British, August 16. 
U. S. frigate Constitution, Capt. Hull, captured the 

British frigate Gurriere, Capt. Dacres, August 19. 
400 men, women, and children, massacred at fort 

Mimms, on the Alabama, by the Indians, August 30. 
U. S. frigate United States, Com. Decatur, captured 

the Macedonian, October 25. 
Battle of Queenstown,U. C; Gen. Brock killed,Oct 3. 
U. S. frigate Constitution, Com. Bainbridge, captured 

the Java, December 29. 
r813 Bloody action at the river Raisin^ between Americans 

under Gen. Winchester, and the British and Indians 

under Gen. Proctor: Gen. Winchester killed, and 

the American prisoners massacred by the Indians, 

January 22. 
13. S. sloop of war Hornet, Capt. Lawrence, captured 

the British sloop of war Beacock, Capt. Peak, who 

was killed. 
York (Upper Canada) taken by the Americans ; Gen. 

Pike killed, April 27. 
U. S. frigate Chesapeake, Capt. Lawrence, captured 

by the British frigate Shannon, Capt. Lawrence kil- 
led, June 1. 
Gallant defence of fort Stephenson, by Major Croghan, 

August 1. 
The American fleet on Lake Erie, under Com. Perry, 

capture the British fleet under Com. Barclay, Sejf)- 

lember 10. 
Gen. Harrison defeats the British and Indians under 

Gen. Proctor ; Tecumseh killed, October 5. 
Detroit fell into the hands of the Americans. 
1813—14 War with the Creek Indians ; March 26, 1814, 

Gen. Jackson obtains a decisive victory over the 

Creeks ; upwards of 500 warriors slain at the Great 

Bend of the Tallapoosa. 
>814 U. S. frigate Essex, Capt. Porter, captured by a aupe- 

rier force, March 28. 



GHRdNOLOGflCiL TABLE, Xm 

Fort Erie taken by the Americans, July. 

Battle of Chippewa, July 6. 

Battle of Niagara, July 25. 

Washington captured and burnt by the British under 
Gen. Ross, August 23. 

Attack on Baltimore ; Gen. Ross killed, Sept. 12. 

Unsuccessful attack by the British, under Gen. Drura- 
mond, on fort Erie, August 14. 

Castine taken by the British, September 1. 

Com. Macdonough captures the British fleet on Lake 
Champlain : retreat of Gen. Provost, from Platts^ 
burg, September 11. 
i&\B Memorable victory of Gen. Jackson over the British, 
before New-Orleans, January 8. 

Treaty of peace between the United States and Great 
Britain, signed at Ghent, December 24, ratitied by 
the President and Senate, February 17, 1815. 

Massacre of American prisoners at Dartmoor, Eng. 
April 6. 

War declared against Algiers ; Com. Decatur cap- 
tures the Algerine frigate Maaouda, June 17 ; ar- 
rives with a squadron before Algiers, and compels 
the Dey to a treaty of Peace. 
IB 18 War with the Seminole Indians. 

1822 Com. Porter sent against the Pirates in the West In- 
dies. 



REI«IARKiLBZ.S EXTENTS. 

1587 Virginia Dare, born— the first child of Christian pa- 
rents born in the United States. 

1608 John Laydon, married to Ann Burras, — the first Chris- 
tian marriage in Virginia, and in the United Statesv 

1610 Starving time in Virginia, of nearly 500 colonists, all 
perished but 60, in the course of six months. 

1613 Rolfe, an Englishman, married Pocahontas, daughter 
of Powhattan the Indian king. 

1616 Tobacco first cultivated by the English settlers in 

VirG^inia. 

1617 Pocahontas died in England, aged about 22. 

1618 A great pestilence destroyed most of the Indians froto 

§^rragansett to Penobscot. 



311* €5HR0N0L0GICAC TABLED. 

1619 20,000 pounds of Tobacco, exported from Virginia iiy- 

England. 

1620 African slaves first brought into Virginia by a Dutch 

ship and sold to the colonists. 
Peregrine White, the first English child born in New- 
England. 

1621 Edward Winslow and Susanna White, married, — the 

first Christian marriage in New England. 

1623 George Sandys, of Virginia, translated Ovid's Meta- 

morphosis, — the first literary production of the En- 
glish colonists in America. 

1624 The first cattle brought into New England by Edward 

Winslow, agent for the Plymouth colony. 

1630 Gov. Winthrop first abolished the custom' of drinking 

healths. 
John Billington executed for murder, — the first exe- 
cution in Plymouth colony. 

1631 First vessel built in Massachusetts, called the Blessing 

of Bay^ launched July 4. 

1632 Magistrates of the colony of Massachusetts, first cho- 

sen by the freemen in the colony. 

The magistrates of Massachusetts, ordered that no to- 
bacco should be used publicly. 

The Genera! Court of Plymouth passed an act, that 
whoever should refuse the office of Governor should 
pay a fine of j^20, unless he was chosen two years 
sucessiveh". 

1633 Virginia enacted laws for the suppression of religious 

sectaries. 
Messrs. Cotton, Hooker, and Stone, three eminent 

ministers, arrived at Boston, from England.. 
A specimen of Rye, first brought into the Court of 

Massachusetts, as the first fruits of English grain. 

1634 Roger Williams, minister of Salem, banished on ac- 

count of his religious tenets. 
First merchant' s shop in Boston opened. 
•1635 Great storm g^ wind and rain in New England ; the 
tide rose twenty feet perpendicularly, August 15. 

1636 The Desire, a ship of 120 tons, built at Marblehead, 

the first American ship that made a voyage to Eng- 
land. 
The first court in Connecticut, held April 26. 

1637 Ann Hutchinson holds lectures in Massachusetts for 

the propagation of her peculiar religious sentiments^ 
—she gains many adherents. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE. <Xr 

Ji Synod convened at Newtown, Mass., the first Synod 
holden in America ; they condemn 82 erroneous 
opinions, which had been propagated in New Eng-r 
land. 
^38 Great earthquake in New Eng-land, June 1, 

Two tremendous storms in Aug-ust and December ; the 
tide rose 14 feet above the spring tides, at Narra- 
gansett, and flowed twice in six hours. 
, Harvard College, Mass. founded ; it was named after 

the Rev. John Harvard one of its principal bene- 
factors 

The Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, for- 
med at Boston. 

Three Englishmen executed by the government of 
Plymouth colony,, for the murder of an Indian. 
^639 First General Election in Hartford, Con.; John Haynes 
first Governor. 

First Baptist Church in America formed at Provi- 
dence, R. I. 

Severe tempest and rain, Connecticut river rose 20 
feet above the meadows, March. 

First Printing in North America at Cambridge, Mass., 
by Samuel Green ; the first thing printed was the 
Freeman's oath. 

House of Assembly established in Maryland. 
1040 The General Court of Massachusetts prohibited the 

use of Tobacco. 
i1S41 Severe winter; Boston and Chesapeake bays frozen ; 
Boston bay passable for carts, horses, &c. for five 
weeks. 

1642 The New England ministers invited to attend the As- 

sembly of Divines, at Westminster, Eng.; but they 
declined. 
First commencement at Harvard College ; 9 candid- 
ates took the degree of A. B. 

1643 Union of the colonies of Plymouth, Massachusetts, 

Connecticut and New Haven, for mutual defence. 

1646 Mr. Elliot commenced his labors among the Indians. 
The Friends or Quakers first came to Massachusetts; 

laws passed against them; four executed in 1659. 

1647 First influen;?a mentioned in the annals of America. 
Legislature of Massachusetts passed an act against the 

Jesuits. 
First general assembly of Rhode Island. 



ai^ri CHRONOLOGICAL TABL&. 

Rev. Thomas Hooker, the first minister in Connecit- 
cut, died, aged 61 years. 

1648 Laws of Massachusetts lirst pj-iriled. 

Margaret Jones of Charlestown, Mass. executed fox 

witchcraft. 
^ The Cambridge Platform" and the " Westminster 

Confession of Faith" received by most of the ISew 

England churches. 
The Congregational Church and its pastor ordered to 

depart from Virginia by the Governor of that colony. 

1649 John Winthrop, Governor of Massachusetts, and the 

Rev. Thomas Shepard, died. 
The Governor of Massachusetts, with the assistants, 
signed a declaration against men's wearing long 
hair, as unscriptural. 

1650 Indians of Martha's Vineyard Christianized. 
Constitution of Maryland established. 

1651 The Legislature of Massachusetts passed laws against 

extravagance in dress. 

1652 The Province of Maine taken under the pro- 

tection of Massachusetts. 
The first mint for coining money in N. England, erected^ 
John Cotton, a celebrated minister in Boston, died,, 

aged 68. 
1654 College at New Waven projected by Mr. Davenport 
Gov. Haynes, of Connecticut, died. 

1656 Miles Standish, the hero of New England, died. 

1657 Disputes concerning Baptism in New England. 
Gov. Eaton, of New Haven, died. 

1658 Earthqaake in New England. 

1660 At this time the colonies of Virginia, New England, 

and Maryland, are supposed to contain no more than 
80,000 inhabitants. 
GofTe and Whalley, the Regicides arrived in Boston. 

1661 So< iety for propagating the gospel among the Indians 

of New England Incorporated by Charles II. 

1662 Charter of Connecticut, granted by King Charles II. 
The Legislature of Massachusetts appointed two licen- 

cers of the press. 
The Assembly of Maryland established a mint in that 

colony. 
1"663 Grea* earthquake in Canada, and New England. 
1t,664 Elliott's Indian Bible printed at Cambridge, Mass., the 

iirst Bible printed in America. 



CHRONOLOGICAL TABLS,:, XVii 

A lar^e Comet seen in New Eng-land. 
'i$^b New-Haven and Connecticut united into one colony. 
At this time the Militia of Mass. consisted of 4,400 men. 
The g-overnment of Rhode-island passed an order to 
outlaw Quakers, for refusing- to bear arms. 
1666 The Buccaniers of America began their depredations 

in the West Indies. 
J672 Laws of Connecticut printed ; every family ordered to 

have a law book. 
1673 New England contained at this time about 120,000 in- 
habitants. 
1675 Virginia contained at this time about 50,000 inhabitants. 

1680 New-Hampshire separated from Massachusetts. The 

first Assembly met at Portsmouth. 
A great Comet seen in New England ; it occasioned 
much alarm. 

1681 Thomas Mayhew died at Martha's Vineyard, aged 93. 

1682 William Penn held a treaty with the Indians. 

1683 The Governor of Virginia ordered that no printing 

press should be used in that colony, " on any occasioo 
whatever." 

1686 First Episcopal society formed in Boston. 

1687 Charter of Con, hid from Andros, in a hollow oak, and 

saved. 
M. de la Salle, the discoverer of Louisiana, killed by 
his own men, in a mutiny. 

1688 New York and the Jersies added to the jurisdiction of 

New England. 
Andros appointed Captain General and Vice-Admiral 

over the whole. 
Opposition to Andres's administration in Mass. 

1689 William & Mary proclaimed in the colonies. Andros 

is seized and sent a prisoner to England. 
Rev. J. Eiliot, "• apostle of the Indians," died. 

1690 Bills of credit issued by the government of Mass. j the 

first ever issued in the American colonies. 
The Whale Fishery, at Nantucket, commenced. 
3691 The Assembly of Virginia obtain of the crown the 
charter of William and Mary College, so named from 
the English sovereigns. 
1692 19 persons executed for witchcraft, in Massachusetts. 
Edmund Andros, the tyrant of New England, made 

Governor of Virginia. 
Massachusetts and Plymouth colonies united. 
4 



S;yiU CHRONOLOGICAL TAELBT. 

Sir William Phips arrived, as Governor of Mass. under 
the new charter. 

1693 Episcopacy introduced into New- York. 

1694 Lcg'islature of Mass. caused the names of drunkards, ia 

the several towns, to be posted up in the public houses^ 
and imposed a fine for giving- them entertainment. 

1695 Rice introduced into Carolina. 

1696 Thirty Indian churchts in New Eng-land, at this time, 

1697 Severe winter ; the Delaware frozen. 

1698 Seat of government in Virg-inia removed to Williams- 

burgh, the streets of which were laid out in the form 
of a W, in honor of the reigning King of Eng. William- 

1699 Assembly of Maiyland removed to Annapolis. 
Yellow Fever in Philadelphia. 

1700 Legislature of New- York made a law to hang every 

Popish priest, who should come into the province. 
2£2,000 inhabitants in the American colonies at the 
beginning of this centuiy. 

1701 Yale College received its charter. 

1702 First emission of paper currency in Carolina. 

First Episcopal Churches in N. Jersey and R. Island, 

1703 The Church of Eng. established by law in Carolina. 

1704 First jy'ewspaper in America published in Boston, 

called the Boston News Letter. 

1706 The Legislature of Con. exempted the ministers of the 

Gospel from taxation in that colony. 

1707 Episcopal Church formed at Stratford ; the first formed 

in Connecticut. 

1708 Saybrook Platform formed by a Synod of ministei*s 

under the authority of the State of Connecticut. 

1709 First issuing of paper currency in N. Y., N. J., and Con. 

1717 Greatest suow ever known, February. 

Yale College removed from Saybrook to New-Haven. 
Bellamy, a pirate, wrecked with his fleet on Cape Cod. 

1718 Piracy suppressed in the West Indies. 

William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania, died in 
England, aged 74. 

1719 Carolina throws off the proprietary government. 
First Presbyterian church in New York founded. 
Northern lights appeared in New England, Dec. 11th. 
Lotteries suppressed by the Legislature of Mass. 

^.72 1 First Inoculation for the Small Pox in America at 
Boston. 
Wkn Yale, the benefactor ©f Yale ©oUeffe, died ia B^g, 



dHRONOLOeiCAL TABLE. SLlX 

1723 Twenty-six pirates executed at Newport, K. I. 
Paper currency in Pennsylvania, first issued. 

1724 The sect of Dunkers took its rise in Pennsylvania. 

1725 Synods abolished in New Eng-land. 

First newspaper printed at N.York by William Bradford. 

1727 Great Earthquake in New England, Oct. 29. 

1728 Drought and hurricane in Carolina ; Yellow Fever in 

Charleston. 
Rt V.Cotton Mather, adistinguished writer, died, aged 65. 

1731 Rev. Solomon »:jtoddard, a Theological writer, died. 

1732 Coni a ad Tobacco made a iegal tender, in Maryland. 

Corn at iiO p nee pr bushel; tobacco at 1 penny },>r. lb. 
Geoii^e- Waskingf.on born in Westmoreland County, 
Virginia, Feb. 22d. 

1733 First MAsonic Lodge held in Boston. 

1737 ILarthquake in New-Jersey. 

1738 College at Princeton, N. J. founded. 

1740 George v\ hiteiield, a celebrated preacher, first arrives 

in America. He died in Newburyport, iyiass.Sep.1770. 
Hard winter; severe cold. 

1741 Four white per:ions executed, 13 negroes burnt, 18 

hanged, and great numbers transported, for a con- 
spiracy to burn the city of New-York. 

1745 Indigo piaot discuverc! in v'oulh- Carolina. 

3746 First ordination among tliu Separate ministers in New 
England. ^ bout 30 congregations of this order were 
formed from 1740 to s'?50. 

1749 Severe drought in ^ew England ; causes great distress; 
some of the inliabitants sent to t ■ngland for hay. 

3750 Mass. enacts a law against 11 eatricji. entertainments. 

1752 jVeiv Style mtroduced into Britain and America ; Sept. 

2d reckoned 14th. 
Charleston, S. C. laid under water by n tempest. Sept. 
Dr. Trankiin makes his Eiertrical expeririit'-.ts 
1754 ConvtmiLm at Albany of delegate s from seven of the 
coloiiies, agree on a plan of union — never carried 
into effect. 
S755 Great Tarthquake in North America, Nov. 18. 

1753 Jonathan Edwards, a celebrated Theologian, died, 

aged 55. 
1759 Lotteries granted by the Legislature of Mass. for the 
benefit of public works. 

1761 Violent whislwind rt.ear Charleston, S. C. 

1762 Severest L':o>:^ht known in America, no rain from 

May to Septembej;. 



'XX CHRONOLOOrCAL TABLB? 

1764 Spanish Potatoe introduced into New England. 

Medical Lectures first read in Philadelphia. 
1769 Dartmouth College, N. Hampshire, receives its charted 
It was named from the Earl of Dartmouth, its bene^ 
factor. 
American Philosophical Society, at Philadelphia, 
founded. 
1771 R. Sandeman, founder of the Sandemanians, died, at 

Danbury* Con. 
1774 The Shakers first arrived from England ; they settle 
near Albany. 
First Congress, at Philadelphia. 
ti775 Peyton Randolph, first President of Congress, died, 
aged 52. 
The first line of Post Offices established ; Dr. Franklia 
appointed Post Master. 

1776 Declaration of Independence, July 4. 

1777 Vermont declares herself an Independent State. 

1780 A\merican Academy of Arts and Sciences incorporated. 
Dark day in the Northern States, I9th of May ; candles 

necessary at noon. 

1781 Massachusetts Medical Society incorporated. 

1782 First English Bible printed in America, by Robert 

Aiken, of Philadelphia. 
The America launched at Portsmouth, N. H. Nov. 5th, 
the first 74 ever built in America. 

1783 Slavery abolished in Massachusetts. 
1783 — 4 Severe Winter, great floods in March. 

1784 Empress of China, a ship of SCO tons, sailed from New- 

York for Canton ; the first vo\age from the United 
States to China. 
Anthony Benezet, a distingiiished philanthropist, died* 
The towns of Hartford, New-Haven, Middletown, New- 
London, and Norwich, in Con. constituted cities by 
the Legislature. 

1785 First instance of Instrumental Music in the Congrega- 

tional Churches in Boston. 

1786 Shay's Insurrection in Massachusetts. 
Universalist Church founded in Boston. 

,1788 Federal Constitution ratified.and became the Constitu- 
tion of the United >tutes. 

1789 George Washington inaugurated first President, April 
30th. 
Convention of Episcopal Clergy in Philadelphia; the 
itret Episcopal Convention in America. 



CSIRONOLOGICAC TABLir. %mt 

l>r. Carrol, of Maryland, consecrated Bishop of the 
Roman Catholic C'hurch ; the first Catholic Bishop in 
the United States. 
1790 Dr. FrankJin died, ag-ed 85. 

1792 Rational Mint established at Philadelphia. 

1793 Yellow Fever in Philadelphia, 4,000 persons died. 
John Hancock, Henry Laurens, Arthur Lee, and 

Ilog-er Sherman, died this year. 

1794 Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania. 
Dcsiructive frost in New England, May 24th. 

1796 Detroit given up by the Biitish to the United States. 

1797 John Adams elected President. 

1798 Yellow Fever in Philadi^phia. 

1799 Washington died, aged 68. 

1800 Seat of government transferred from Philadelphia to 

Washington, 
The Inoculation of the Kine Pock introduced into 
America by Professor Waterhouse, of Cambridge, 
Massachusetts. 

1801 Thomas Jefferson elected Presidentof the United States. 

1802 Merino sheep introduced into the United States, bj 

Mr. Livingston and Gen. Humphreys. 

1803 Louisiana purchased of the French Government, for 

15 millions of <^ollr.rs. 

1804 Gen. Hamilton killed in a duel, by Col. Aaron li urr, 

Vice President of the United States. 
1807 First Steamboat built in tfiis country. 

Col. A. Burr arr sted on charge of Treason. 
Several Meteoric stones fell in the County of Fairfield, 
(.'on. one weighing 35 pounds, Dec. 4th. 
1809 James Madison elected President. 
1811 Richmond Theatre burnt, Dec. 26 ; many persons lost 

their lives. 
1814 Meeting ot the * -artford <^ invention, Dec. 15. 

1816 American Bible Society formed, May 8th. 
Colonization Society formed. 

Cold t-'ummer. Frost every month in the year, in the 

Northern States. 
Bnrik of the United States^ with a capital of 35 millions 

of dollars, incorporated in April. 

1817 Grand Canal in the ^^tate of New- York commenced. 
James Monroe electerl President. 

1820 First Mariner's Chu;cl! erected u.t New-York. 

182 1 Fiprida ceded to the United States., 



jHtii eJHROKOLO&iaAL TABMT. 

1824 Gen. La. Fayette arriver^ at New-York. 

1825 John Qninc\ Adams elected President. 

1826 Thomi^s Jefferson and John Adams, two Ex-Presidents , 

died July 4th, on the fiftieth anniversary of Amerieaa 
Independence. 



